title: Lipids: From Chemical Structures, Biosynthesis, and Analyses to Industrial Applications.
abstract: Lipids are one of the major subcellular components, and play numerous essential functions. As well as their physiological roles, oils stored in biomass are useful commodities for a variety of biotechnological applications including food, chemical feedstocks, and fuel. Due to their agronomic as well as economic and societal importance, lipids have historically been subjected to intensive studies. Major current efforts are to increase the energy density of cell biomass, and/or create designer oils suitable for specific applications. This chapter covers some basic aspects of what one needs to know about lipids: definition, structure, function, metabolism and focus is also given on the development of modern lipid analytical tools and major current engineering approaches for biotechnological applications. This introductory chapter is intended to serve as a primer for all subsequent chapters in this book outlining current development in specific areas of lipids and their metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Environnementale et Biotechnologie, UMR 7265 CEA - CNRS - Université Aix Marseille, CEA Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, 13108, France. yonghua.li@cea.fr.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li-Beisson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harwood
mesh_terms: D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: Algae; Fatty acids; Lipid analysis; Lipid biotechnology; Lipid metabolism; Plants