During lipid droplet (LD) formation, several key enzymes for neutral lipid biosynthesis, such as acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3), translocate from the bilayer of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane or mitochondria-associated membrane to the monolayer surface of LDs. It has been recently shown that syntaxin 17 (Stx17) in cooperation with synaptosomal-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23) facilitates the translocation of ACSL3 from the endoplasmic reticulum/mitochondria-associated membrane to LDs. In this study, we investigated whether lipid microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids are important for the formation of LDs and the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23. Cholesterol depletion and blockage of ceramide synthesis by chemicals inhibited oleic acid (OA)-induced LD biogenesis and decreased the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23, whereas blockage of ganglioside GD3 synthesis by sialyltransferase knockdown interfered with LD biogenesis by affecting the interaction of Stx17 with SNAP23 but not ACSL3. Consistent with the requirement of GD3 in LD biogenesis, Stx17 was found to associate with GD3-containing membranes upon OA loading. SNAP23 and a minor fraction of Stx17 were found to reside in detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), whereas OA treatment caused redistribution of ACSL3 and Stx17 to DRMs. Importantly, the redistribution of ACSL3 to DRMs was abrogated upon depletion of Stx17 or SNAP23. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of lipid microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids as a platform for the interaction of Stx17 with ACSL3 and SNAP23 in LD biogenesis.
