Discovered a new mechanism that allows cells to take advantage of fat excess

Interaction between lipid droplets (in red) and mitochondria (in green). Image: Albert Herms, IDIBAPS
Interaction between lipid droplets (in red) and mitochondria (in green). Image: Albert Herms, IDIBAPS
Research
(29/05/2015)

A study led by Albert Pol, researcher in the Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences and ICREA research professor at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), reveals the mechanism that allows the interaction between two cell organelles, lipid droplets (LDs) and mitochondria, to exchange the fatty acids contained in LDs, so mitochondria are able to produce energy during nutrient starvation. This is achieved thanks to special microtubules, as a kind of highway, on which LDs relocate and move up to the mitochondria. The work has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Link to the IDIBAPS piece of news

 

Interaction between lipid droplets (in red) and mitochondria (in green). Image: Albert Herms, IDIBAPS
Interaction between lipid droplets (in red) and mitochondria (in green). Image: Albert Herms, IDIBAPS
Research
29/05/2015

A study led by Albert Pol, researcher in the Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences and ICREA research professor at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), reveals the mechanism that allows the interaction between two cell organelles, lipid droplets (LDs) and mitochondria, to exchange the fatty acids contained in LDs, so mitochondria are able to produce energy during nutrient starvation. This is achieved thanks to special microtubules, as a kind of highway, on which LDs relocate and move up to the mitochondria. The work has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Link to the IDIBAPS piece of news