Abstract 2387 Media lacking a subset of essential amino acids signal lipid droplet accumulation in Tetrahymena thermophila

Lipid droplets are widely recognized as critical and dynamic organelles in multiple cell types. Our research examines the form and function of lipid droplets in the single-celled ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, a model organism that is evolutionarily distinct from those with well-defined strategies for lipid storage and utilization. We have previously shown that Tetrahymena mobilize lipids in response to nutrient deprivation. Our experiments demonstrate increases in both lipid droplet number and triacylglyceride mass when Tetrahymena are moved from a nutrient-rich Neff media (0.25% proteose peptone, 0.25% yeast extract, 0.5% glucose, 33 μM FeCl3) to 10 mM Tris buffer.