Biogenesis and dynamics of lipid bodies

In seeds, triacylglycérols (TAGs), mains lipids stocks, are stored in very stable subcellular structures : lipid bodies. Understanding mechanisms leading to biogenesis and dynamics of these organelles would be very helpfull to better define important biological parameters for oleosomes modification to improve oil storage or extraction. A core of TAGs in a phospholipid monolayer with different proteins inserted constitutes these bodies. Oleosins, the more abondant ones among these proteins, confer to oleosomes a strong stability. This stability could impacts oil extraction in rape seeds particularly in which residual oil pourcentage in seed meals is important. Oleosins also play a role in controlling oleosomes' size and lipid accumulation in seeds.
The main objective of the project is to unravel the mechanisms involved in the growth of the oil bodies, firstly at a cellular scale and secondly at the scale of the seed. To achieve this goal several complementary skills from IJPB and MIA laboratories involved in this project, will be gathered to build a bio-physical model of oil body biogenesis. The model will principally i-interconnect several mechanisms in a quantitative way, ii- emphasize on the lack of knowledge and iii- test different hypothesis relative to various factor’s weight.

Contact :
Co-direction : Alain Trubuil

PhD subject IJPB 2010 from research group Development and metabolism of the seed
Doctoral scholl FdV