Lipids in Photosynthesis


Book Description

Lipids in Photosynthesis: Essential and Regulatory Functions, provides an essential summary of an exciting decade of research on relationships between lipids and photosynthesis. The book brings together extensively cross-referenced and peer-reviewed chapters by prominent researchers. The topics covered include the structure, molecular organization and biosynthesis of fatty acids, glycerolipids and nonglycerolipids in plants, algae, lichens, mosses, and cyanobacteria, as well as in chloroplasts and mitochondria. Several chapters deal with the manipulation of the extent of unsaturation of fatty acids and the effects of such manipulation on photosynthesis and responses to various forms of stress. The final chapters focus on lipid trafficking, signaling and advanced analytical techniques. Ten years ago, Siegenthaler and Murata edited "Lipids in Photosynthesis: Structure, Function and Genetics," which became a classic in the field. "Lipids in Photosynthesis: Essential and Regulatory Functions," belongs, with its predecessor, in every plant and microbiological researcher's bookcase.
















Plant Lipid Metabolism


Book Description

A collection of papers that comprehensively describe the major areas of research on lipid metabolism of plants. State-of-the-art knowledge about research on fatty acid and glycerolipid biosynthesis, isoprenoid metabolism, membrane structure and organization, lipid oxidation and degradation, lipids as intracellular and extracellular messengers, lipids and environment, oil seeds and gene technology is reviewed. The different topics covered show that modern tools of plant cellular and molecular biology, as well as molecular genetics, have been recently used to characterize several key enzymes of plant lipid metabolism (in particular, desaturases, thioesterases, fatty acid synthetase) and to isolate corresponding cDNAs and genomic clones, allowing the use of genetic engineering methods to modify the composition of membranes or storage lipids. These findings open fascinating perspectives, both for establishing the roles of lipids in membrane function and intracellular signalling and for adapting the composition of seed oil to the industrial needs. This book will be a good reference source for research scientists, advanced students and industrialists wishing to follow the considerable progress made in recent years on plant lipid metabolism and to envision the new opportunities offered by genetic engineering for the development of novel oil seeds.




Lipid signaling in plants


Book Description

Cell membranes are the initial and focal sites of stimulus perception and signal transduction. Membrane lipids are rich sources for the production of signaling messengers that mediate plant growth, development, and response to nutrient status and stresses. In recent years, substantial progress has been made toward understanding lipid signaling in plants, but many fundamental questions remain: What lipids are signaling messengers or mediators in plants? How are the signaling lipids produced and metabolized? In what plant cellular and physiological processes are various lipid mediators involved? How do they carry out their signaling functions? How do lipid signaling networks contribute to modulating plant growth, development, and responses to hormones and stresses? In this Research Topic issue, we invite the broad plant community to address the above questions.Cell membranes are the initial and focal sites of stimulus perception and signal transduction. Membrane lipids are rich sources for the production of signaling messengers that mediate plant growth, development, and response to nutrient status and stresses. In recent years, substantial progress has been made toward understanding lipid signaling in plants, but many fundamental questions remain: What lipids are signaling messengers or mediators in plants? How are the signaling lipids produced and metabolized? In what plant cellular and physiological processes are various lipid mediators involved? How do they carry out their signaling functions? How do lipid signaling networks contribute to modulating plant growth, development, and responses to hormones and stresses? In this Research Topic issue, we invite the broad plant community to address the above questions.




Lipid Metabolism in Plants


Book Description

This text presents a comprehensive description of the fundamental principles of plant lipid metabolism and then uses this base to examine current research in the field. The importance of molecular biology and the incorporation of new analytical methods are discussed, and the contributions of current research to agricultural and industrial uses are covered in depth. Chapters are illustrated with tables and figures to support key concepts, and projections for future researc in the field are also explored.




New Frontiers in Bryology


Book Description

The mosses (Bryophatea, Musci) are a diverse and widely distributed group of land plants. Mosses are attractive experimental plants because they exhibit the traditional attributes of good model systems (Le. ease of growth & maintenance, fast generation time, and amenable genetics) with the added advantage of a haploid gametophyte that allowed developmental mutants to be recovered with relative ease. In addition, mosses with the ability to tolerate extreme environmental conditions offer realistic models for the analysis of environmental stress-tolerance; particularly when compared to tracheophytes such as Arabidopsis thaliana in which these important plant phenotypes are either not clearly expressed or entirely lacking. And, in one of the most exciting developments in Plant Biology, efficient homologous recombination occurs in the moss Physcomitrella patens. The ability to perform efficient homologous recombination (Le. gene knock-outs) in P. patens is at present unique amongst all plants and represents an extremely powerful technique for the functional analysis of many plant genes. Over the past 5 years, a world-wide community of moss researchers has evolved. A highly successful "Moss" conference has been held annually (l998-Mumbai, India; 1999-Carbondale, IL, USA; 2000-Villars, Switzerland; 200l-0kazaki, Japan; 2002-Ambleside, UK; 2003-St. Louis, MO, USA) with "Moss 2004" planned to be held in Frieburg Germany. These conferences have been instrumental in the creation & development of strong collaborative ties, and the free exchange of both ideas and materials.




Biological Role of Plant Lipids


Book Description

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on title] held in Budapest, Hungary, July 1988. Covers traditional areas of research in the field (metabolism, structure and function of lipids). Special attention is given to biocides and their interaction with plant lipids and the metabolic responses