The second manuscript shows that lateral steric repulsion is a key factor controlling protein movement from the ER to lipid droplets. This mechanism can prevent some monotopic ER proteins from reaching LDs, or fine-tune their concentration there.

Seipin beyond LDs: We’re only beginning to uncover what the vital ER protein seipin does beyond shaping lipid droplets. Our work also shows that it tunes the balance between sphingolipids and glycerolipids in the ER, an equilibrium crucial for protein secretion, notably of Cav1.