Plasma membrane remodeling determines adipocyte expansion and mechanical adaptability

Adipocytes expand massively to accommodate excess energy stores and protect the organism from lipotoxicity. Adipose tissue expandability is at the center of disorders such as obesity and lipodystrophy; however, little is known about the relevance of adipocyte biomechanics on the etiology of these conditions. Here, we show in male mice in vivo that the adipocyte plasma membrane undergoes caveolar domain reorganization upon lipid droplet expansion. As the lipid droplet grows, caveolae disassemble to release their membrane reservoir and increase cell surface area, and transfer specific caveolar components to the LD surface. Adipose tissue null for caveolae is stiffer, shows compromised deformability, and is prone to rupture under mechanical compression. Mechanistically, phosphoacceptor Cav1 Tyr14 is required for caveolae disassembly: adipocytes bearing a Tyr14Phe mutation at this residue are stiffer and smaller, leading to decreased adiposity in vivo; exhibit deficient transfer of Cav1 and EHD2 to the LD surface, and show distinct Cav1 molecular dynamics and tension adaptation. These results indicate that Cav1 phosphoregulation modulates caveolar dynamics as a relevant component of the homeostatic mechanoadaptation of the differentiated adipocyte. Adipose tissue accommodates large volume changes upon expansion, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here, Aboy et al. describe CAV1 Y14 phosphorylation as required for appropriate adipocyte caveolae flattening and homeostasis.