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SUMMARY:Escaping the fossil fuel trap – functional characterisation of m
 icroalgal diacylglycerol acyltransferases - Alexander Litvinenko
DTSTART:20131115T140000Z
DTEND:20131115T142500Z
UID:TALK48221@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:The increasing world demand for liquid fuels\, combined with t
 he depletion of traditional fossil fuel reserves and the threat of rising 
 atmospheric CO2 levels\, has resulted in strong global demand for alternat
 ive fuel sources. Microalgae are well suited for playing a significant rol
 e in meeting these demands\, because their metabolic pathways and the high
  amount of triacylglycerides (TAGs) they are able to accumulate means that
  they could be used for liquid biofuel production on a large scale. With i
 ncreasing understanding of the TAG biosynthesis pathway\, modifying it to 
 produce more desired compounds will become possible.\n\nMy PhD project inv
 olves attempting to elucidate the functions\, physiological roles and mode
 s of action of microalgal diacylglyceride acyltransferases (DGATs)\, enzym
 es known to play a pivotal role in TAG biosynthesis. The reasons for multi
 ple isoforms of this enzyme being retained through evolutionary history in
  the microalgal lineages are unknown\, so by approaching the problem from 
 the complementary perspectives of molecular biology and biochemistry\, the
  knowledge gained will be useful for generating a more complete understand
 ing of microalgal lipid metabolism and for increasing microalgal TAG produ
 ction for biofuel generation.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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