Links between lipid homeostasis, organelle morphodynamics and protein trafficking in eukaryotic and plant secretory pathways

The role of lipids as molecular actors of protein transport and organelle morphology in plant cells has progressed over the last years through pharmacological and genetic investigations. The manuscript is reviewing the roles of various lipid families in membrane dynamics and trafficking in eukaryotic cells, and summarizes some of the related physicochemical properties of the lipids involved. The article also focuses on the specific requirements of the sphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) in Golgi morphology and protein transport through the plant secretory pathway. The use of a specific inhibitor of plant glucosylceramide synthase and selected Arabidopsis thaliana RNAi lines stably expressing several markers of the plant secretory pathway, establishes specific steps sensitive to GlcCer biosynthesis. Collectively, data of the literature demonstrate the existence of links between protein trafficking, organelle morphology, and lipid metabolism/homeostasis in eukaryotic cells including plant cells.