Study of the behavior of triacylglycerols in membrane bilayers and the formation of lipid droplets using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations

Triglycerides, or triacylglycerols (TAGs), are neutral lipids consisting of a glycerol head group and three fatty acid chains. They serve as the main component of animal fat and are a primary energy store for humans. An excess of TAGs in the human body, a condition known as hypertriglyceridemia, can be an indicator for weight-related disease. TAGs display unique properties when concentrated in lipid bilayers, forming aggregates in the hydrophobic region. This lends itself to TAG’s significant role in the genesis and constituency of lipid droplets in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).