vetdruppel

Vetdruppel is the Dutch term for lipid droplet, a cytoplasmic organelle that stores neutral lipids such as triglycerides and cholesteryl esters. Lipid droplets consist of a hydrophobic core of neutral lipids surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer and a layer of associated proteins. In many cell types, specific proteins from the perilipin family and other lipid-droplet–associated proteins regulate the balance between lipid storage and mobilization.

Formation and structure are closely linked to the endoplasmic reticulum. Lipid droplets originate within the ER membrane, where neutral lipids accumulate between the membrane leaflets and bud off into the cytoplasm. They can grow by further lipid deposition and by the recruitment of surface proteins. The droplet surface makes contact with other organelles, including mitochondria and peroxisomes, enabling lipid exchange and signaling.

Functions of vetdruppels extend beyond mere storage. They serve as readily available energy sources through lipolysis, supplying fatty acids for beta-oxidation. Lipid droplets also participate in lipid homeostasis, membrane synthesis, and signaling pathways. Alterations in droplet number, size, or protein composition are associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and hepatic steatosis, and with changes observed in cancer cell metabolism and certain neurodegenerative diseases.

Research methods used to study vetdruppels include fluorescence and electron microscopy for visualization, biochemical isolation of droplets, and lipidomic analyses to profile stored lipids. In Dutch biomedical literature, the term vetdruppel is commonly used to refer to lipid droplets in various tissues and experimental contexts, often alongside the English term lipid droplet.