Latest Publications
Partitioning of fatty acids between membrane and storage lipids controls ER membrane expansion
Pawel K Lysyganicz, Antonio D Barbosa, Shoily Khondker, Nicolas A Stewart, George M Carman, Phillip J Stansfeld, Marcus K Dymond, Symeon Siniossoglou
Here we demonstrate that a lipid-degradation pathway inhibits expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Phospholipid diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDATs) use endogenous phospholipids as fatty-acyl donors to generate triglyceride stored in lipid droplets. The significance of this non-canonical triglyceride biosynthesis pathway has remained elusive. We show that active Lro1 mediates retraction of ER membrane expansion driven by phospholipid synthesis. Furthermore, subcellular distribution and membrane turnover activity of Lro1 are controlled by diacylglycerol produced by the activity of Pah1, a conserved member of the lipin family. Collectively, our findings reveal a lipid-metabolic network that regulates endoplasmic reticulum biogenesis by converting phospholipids into storage lipids.