Mitochondrial Dysfunction Induces Formation of Lipid Droplets as a Generalized Response to Stress

Figure 5

Paucity of mitochondrial DNA increased LD formation. Cells of a well-characterized human lung carcinoma cell line, A549, were treated with ethidium bromide (EtBr) for 3 weeks. Petite mitochondria were found in the cytosol of A549 ρ0 cells ((b), (c), arrow). A549 cells exhibit normal mitochondrial morphology with organized cristae ((a), arrow). In the vicinity of petite mitochondria, LDs developed ((c), arrowhead). Bar represents 500 nm. The expression of glucose transporters and PGC-1 was examined with cell lysates of both A549 and ρ0 cells (d). The expression of metabolic proteins, PKM1/2 and FAS, was also examined (e). β-Actin blot serves as a loading control.