Interest Group in Algae and Plant and Lipidomics

Plants and algae have a unique lipid composition that can be explored through lipidomics. Plants and algae lipids are crucial for cellular membranes and energy storage, playing essential roles in biological processes such as photosynthesis, stress responses, and signaling pathways. The lipidome of plants and algae is highly complex and dynamic, exhibiting significant plasticity in response to stress agents and environmental conditions.

Land plants are enriched in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as linoleic and linolenic acids (C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3, respectively). In contrast, algae contain long-chain omega-3 PUFA like eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3), which are increasingly sought by consumers due to the rising incidence of chronic diseases and the demand for natural sources of healthy lipids.

The adaptability of plants and algae provides valuable insights into their biology and presents vast potential for diverse biotechnological applications, with potential to contribute significantly to sustainable development and human well-being. The field of lipidomic analytical development has grown significantly and in recent years have allowed to improve knowledge in this field.

Build up a collaborative network of researchers and professionals who share a common interest in advancing research, fostering collaboration, and promoting knowledge exchange in the field of alga and plant lipidomics. Networking activities will leverage alga and plant lipidomics, including lipid analysis techniques, lipid metabolism, lipid biochemistry, lipidomics applications in food science and nutrition, biotechnological application and exploring lipids as biomarkers for evaluation of environmental stressors and climate changes.