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Autophagy regulates lipid metabolism

Author

Listed:
  • Rajat Singh

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,)

  • Susmita Kaushik

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,
    Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology,
    Institute for Aging Studies,)

  • Yongjun Wang

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,)

  • Youqing Xiang

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,)

  • Inna Novak

    (The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,
    Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA)

  • Masaaki Komatsu

    (Laboratory of Frontier Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8613, Japan)

  • Keiji Tanaka

    (Laboratory of Frontier Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8613, Japan)

  • Ana Maria Cuervo

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,
    Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology,
    Institute for Aging Studies,)

  • Mark J. Czaja

    (Department of Medicine,
    The Marion Bessin Liver Research Center,)

Abstract

The intracellular storage and utilization of lipids are critical to maintain cellular energy homeostasis. During nutrient deprivation, cellular lipids stored as triglycerides in lipid droplets are hydrolysed into fatty acids for energy. A second cellular response to starvation is the induction of autophagy, which delivers intracellular proteins and organelles sequestered in double-membrane vesicles (autophagosomes) to lysosomes for degradation and use as an energy source. Lipolysis and autophagy share similarities in regulation and function but are not known to be interrelated. Here we show a previously unknown function for autophagy in regulating intracellular lipid stores (macrolipophagy). Lipid droplets and autophagic components associated during nutrient deprivation, and inhibition of autophagy in cultured hepatocytes and mouse liver increased triglyceride storage in lipid droplets. This study identifies a critical function for autophagy in lipid metabolism that could have important implications for human diseases with lipid over-accumulation such as those that comprise the metabolic syndrome.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajat Singh & Susmita Kaushik & Yongjun Wang & Youqing Xiang & Inna Novak & Masaaki Komatsu & Keiji Tanaka & Ana Maria Cuervo & Mark J. Czaja, 2009. "Autophagy regulates lipid metabolism," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7242), pages 1131-1135, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:458:y:2009:i:7242:d:10.1038_nature07976
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07976
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