Lipid Droplets as Organelles

Long considered inert fat storage depots, it has become clear that lipid droplets (LDs) are bona fide organelles. Like other organelles, they have a characteristic complement of proteins and lipids, and undergo a life cycle that includes biogenesis, maturation, interactions with other organelles, and turnover. I will discuss recent insights into mechanisms governing the life cycle of LDs, and compare and contrast the LD life cycle with that of other metabolic organelles such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and autophagosomes, highlighting open questions in the field.