Function and Metabolism of Plant Lipids

Dear Colleagues,

Lipids are essential components of all living cells. They constitute the building blocks of biological membranes, provide carbon and energy for metabolic processes, and serve as intra- and intercellular signals. In addition to the common lipids found in forms of life ranging from bacteria to eukaryotes, plant and algal cells contain unique lipid classes that are associated with photosynthetic functions. Thanks to their unique organelles called plastids, which may be evolutionarily related to cyanobacteria, plants and algae have complex lipid metabolic pathways across multiple organelles, with plastids and the endoplasmic reticulum playing central roles. Accordingly, these photosynthetic organisms have developed intricate regulatory lipid metabolism and signaling pathway mechanisms to maintain cellular homeostasis and torespond to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Considering that the lipids produced by plants and algae are not only essential for themselves but also for human life and activity in various aspects such as food, health, chemistry, and green energy, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and regulation in plants is of great interest from the viewpoints of both basic and applied sciences.

This Special Issue invites researchers to contribute original research or updated review articles that are focused on the molecular functions and metabolism of lipids in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, including cyanobacteria, and that open new possible research paths for further novel developments in this field.

Dr. Koichi Kobayashi
Guest Editor

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