Plant oils represent an energy-rich and carbon-dense group of hydrophobic compounds. These oils are not only of economic interest, but also play important, fundamental roles in plant and algal growth and development. The subcellular storage compartments of plant lipids, referred to as lipid droplets (LDs), have long been considered relatively inert oil vessels. However, research in the last decade has revealed that LDs play far more dynamic roles in plant biology than previously appreciated, including transient neutral lipid storage, membrane remodeling, lipid signaling, and stress responses. Here we discuss recent developments in the understanding of LD formation, turnover and function in land plants and algae.

植物油代表了一组富含能量且碳密集的疏水化合物。这些油不仅具有经济价值，而且在植物和藻类的生长和发育中也发挥着重要的基础性作用。植物脂质的亚细胞储存室，称为脂滴 (LD)，长期以来一直被认为是相对惰性的油容器。然而，过去十年的研究表明，LDs 在植物生物学中发挥的作用比以前认识的要多得多，包括瞬时中性脂质储存、膜重塑、脂质信号传导和应激反应。在这里，我们讨论了对陆地植物和藻类中 LD 形成、周转和功能的理解的最新进展。