Mechanisms of lipid body formation

Most organisms transport or store neutral lipids as lipid bodies - lipid dr oplets that usually are bounded by specific proteins and (phospho)lipid, Ne utral-lipid bodies vary considerably in their morphology and are associated with an extremely diverse range of proteins. However, the mechanisms by wh ich they are generated in plants, animals and microorganisms appear to shar e many common features: lipid bodies probably arise from microdomains of th e endoplasmic reticulum (or the plasma membrane in prokaryotes) that contai n lipid-biosynthesis enzymes, and their synthesis and size appear to be con trolled by specific protein components.