Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets

Abstract Lipid droplets (LDs) are the main cellular storage sites for triacylglycerols (TAGs), playing an important role in energy homeostasis and cell signaling. Hydrolysis of the stored TAGs begins with conversion of TAGs into diacylglycerols (DAGs) by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), followed...

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Main Authors: Han Peng, Qikui Xu, Ting Zhang, Jiakai Zhu, Jinheng Pan, Xiaoyu Guan, Shan Feng, Jianping Wu, Qi Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58887-z
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author Han Peng
Qikui Xu
Ting Zhang
Jiakai Zhu
Jinheng Pan
Xiaoyu Guan
Shan Feng
Jianping Wu
Qi Hu
author_facet Han Peng
Qikui Xu
Ting Zhang
Jiakai Zhu
Jinheng Pan
Xiaoyu Guan
Shan Feng
Jianping Wu
Qi Hu
author_sort Han Peng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lipid droplets (LDs) are the main cellular storage sites for triacylglycerols (TAGs), playing an important role in energy homeostasis and cell signaling. Hydrolysis of the stored TAGs begins with conversion of TAGs into diacylglycerols (DAGs) by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), followed by hydrolysis of DAGs by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). Despite the central role of HSL in lipolysis, the molecular determinants for its LD association have remained elusive. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of human HSL at 3.4 Å. Combining this with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, biochemical and cellular assays, we identify residues 489-538, referred to as the “H-motif”, and the N-terminal 4-helix bundle of HSL as LD-binding motifs mediating direct interaction of HSL with LDs. LD binding mediated by the LD-binding motifs is independent of HSL phosphorylation catalyzed by the cAMP-dependent kinase PKA. Our findings provide insight into the LD binding mechanism of HSL, advancing our understanding of the regulation of lipolysis.
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spelling doaj-art-15fb0cc8de1d4122a95ece92a0879a842025-08-20T03:10:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111910.1038/s41467-025-58887-zMolecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid dropletsHan Peng0Qikui Xu1Ting Zhang2Jiakai Zhu3Jinheng Pan4Xiaoyu Guan5Shan Feng6Jianping Wu7Qi Hu8College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityWestlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and BiomedicineSchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversityWestlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and BiomedicineSchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversityAbstract Lipid droplets (LDs) are the main cellular storage sites for triacylglycerols (TAGs), playing an important role in energy homeostasis and cell signaling. Hydrolysis of the stored TAGs begins with conversion of TAGs into diacylglycerols (DAGs) by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), followed by hydrolysis of DAGs by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). Despite the central role of HSL in lipolysis, the molecular determinants for its LD association have remained elusive. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of human HSL at 3.4 Å. Combining this with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, biochemical and cellular assays, we identify residues 489-538, referred to as the “H-motif”, and the N-terminal 4-helix bundle of HSL as LD-binding motifs mediating direct interaction of HSL with LDs. LD binding mediated by the LD-binding motifs is independent of HSL phosphorylation catalyzed by the cAMP-dependent kinase PKA. Our findings provide insight into the LD binding mechanism of HSL, advancing our understanding of the regulation of lipolysis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58887-z
spellingShingle Han Peng
Qikui Xu
Ting Zhang
Jiakai Zhu
Jinheng Pan
Xiaoyu Guan
Shan Feng
Jianping Wu
Qi Hu
Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
Nature Communications
title Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
title_full Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
title_fullStr Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
title_full_unstemmed Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
title_short Molecular determinants for the association of human hormone-sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
title_sort molecular determinants for the association of human hormone sensitive lipase with lipid droplets
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58887-z
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