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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370221
Research Project: Molecular Genetic and Proximal Sensing Analyses of Abiotic Stress Response and Oil Production Pathways in Cotton, Oilseeds, and Other Industrial and Biofuel Crops

Location: Plant Physiology and Genetics Research

Title: Lipid droplets in plants and algae: distribution, formation, turnover and function

Author
item ISCHEBECK, TILL - University Of Gottingen
item MULLEN, ROBERT - University Of Guelph
item Dyer, John
item CHAPMAN, KENT - University Of North Texas

Submitted to: Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/29/2020
Publication Date: 3/5/2020
Citation: Ischebeck, T., Mullen, R.T., Dyer, J.M., Chapman, K.D. 2020. Lipid droplets in plants and algae: distribution, formation, turnover and function. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. 108:82-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.02.014.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.02.014

Interpretive Summary: Plant oils represent an energy-rich and carbon-dense group of hydrophobic compounds. These oils are not only of economic interest, but also play important roles in plant and algal growth and development. The subcellular storage compartments of plant lipids, referred to as lipid droplets (LDs), have long been considered relatively inert oil vessels. Research in the last decade, however, has revealed that LDs play far more dynamic roles in plant biology than previously appreciated. Here we discuss recent developments in the understanding of LD formation, turnover and function in land plants and algae. This review will be of greatest interest to scientists studying mechanisms of oil formation and storage in plants and algae and provides new information about how the storage organelles function in various aspects of growth, development and stress responses.

Technical Abstract: Plant oils represent an energy-rich and carbon-dense group of hydrophobic compounds. These oils are not only of economic interest, but also play important roles in plant and algal growth and development. The subcellular storage compartments of plant lipids, referred to as lipid droplets (LDs), have long been considered relatively inert oil vessels. Research in the last decade has revealed that LDs play far more dynamic roles in plant biology than previously appreciated, including transient neutral lipid storage, membrane remodeling, lipid signaling, and stress responses. Here we discuss recent developments in the understanding of LD formation, turnover and function in land plants and algae.