Green microalgae, the ancestors of land plants, are microscopic organisms mainly living in the planet waters. Like plants, they are able of performing photosynthesis, a complex metabolic process that converts CO2 into biomass and oxygen using the energy of sunlight. Light is not only the source of energy that fuels photosynthesis but also acts as source of information. Thanks to specific sensors, called photoreceptors, algae respond to the light colour moving towards or against the light (phototaxis), regulating their cell division and other fundamental processes. When light intensity becomes very strong (i.e. under full sunlight) it can become toxic, producing reactive oxygen species and cell […]

​​​​Researchers at the Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory are studying diatoms glycerolipids, some of which are called oleaginous and of interest since they should allow industrial developments (biofuels). By screening small molecules, they demonstrated that the metabolic pathways leading to these glycerolipids could be oriented to favor the accumulation of oil they and deposit a patent.​​​​​ References Abida H, Dolch LJ, Meï C, Villanova V, Conte M, Block MA, Finazzi G, Bastien O, Tirichine L, Bowler C, Rébeillé F, Petroutsos D, Jouhet J and Maréchal E Membrane glycerolipid remodeling triggered by nitrogen and phosphorus starvation in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Plant Physiology, […]

As part of an international collaboration, a French team has revealed the cellular mechanisms behind the impressive photosynthetic capacity of unicellular marine organisms: Diatoms.​​ References Bailleul B, Berne N, Murik O, Petroutsos D, Prihoda J, Tanaka A, Villanova V, Bligny R, Flori S, Falconet D, Krieger-Liszkay A, Santabarbara S, Rappaport F, Joliot P, Tirichine L, Falkowski PG, Cardol P, Bowler C and Finazzi G Energetic coupling between plastids and mitochondria drives CO2 assimilation in diatoms. Nature, 2015

An international collaboration has enabled researchers at the Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory to highlight the action of the TPK3 potassium channel on the use of light by the electron transfer, and thus the survivability of the plant. References Carraretto L, Formentin E, Teardo E, Checchetto V, Tomizioli M, Morosinotto T, Giacometti GM, Finazzi G and Szabó I A thylakoid-located two-pore Potassium channel controls photosynthetic light utilization in plants. Science, 2013