Occludin is a target of Src kinase and promotes lipid secretion by binding to BTN1a1 and XOR

PLoS Biol. 2022 Jan 18;20(1):e3001518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001518. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) have increasingly been recognized as an essential organelle for eukaryotes. Although the biochemistry of lipid synthesis and degradation is well characterized, the regulation of LD dynamics, including its formation, maintenance, and secretion, is poorly understood. Here, we report that mice lacking Occludin (Ocln) show defective lipid metabolism. We show that LDs were larger than normal along its biogenesis and secretion pathway in Ocln null mammary cells. This defect in LD size control did not result from abnormal lipid synthesis or degradation; rather, it was because of secretion failure during the lactation stage. We found that OCLN was located on the LD membrane and was bound to essential regulators of lipid secretion, including BTN1a1 and XOR, in a C-terminus-dependent manner. Finally, OCLN was a phosphorylation target of Src kinase, whose loss causes lactation failure. Together, we demonstrate that Ocln is a downstream target of Src kinase and promotes LD secretion by binding to BTN1a1 and XOR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Butyrophilins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Lactation / metabolism
  • Lipid Droplets / physiology*
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Milk / metabolism
  • Occludin / genetics
  • Occludin / metabolism*
  • src-Family Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Btn1a1 protein, mouse
  • Butyrophilins
  • Occludin
  • src-Family Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2017YFA0103502 to P.L.) and the NSF of China (31671494 to P.L.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.