Jitao Zou | EmailSenior Research Officer
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Biosynthesis of glycerolipid molecules concerns membrane biogenesis and storage lipid accumulation. We explore genetic resources of Arabidopsis thaliana and Saccharomyces cerevicea to dissect enzymatic components of the glycerolipid synthesis pathway. Our research efforts have been centered on studying fatty acyltransferases, which mediate the stepwise acylation of glycerol backbone with fatty acyl-CoAs, and the metabolism of glycerol-3-phosphate, which provides the glycerol backbone for all glycerolipid molecules. We investigate the metabolic interactions of various branches of the glycerolipid assembly pathway with a long term goal of building a biotechnology platform to improve seed oil content and fatty acid composition in oilseed crops. We are also interested in examining alterations of glycerolipid metabolism in vegetative tissues in relation to plant stress adaptation and regulation of membrane lipid turnover during plant development and cell differentiation.
Variation in genetic constituent of the endosperm impacts the phenotype of the seed, and endosperm participates in flux control of nutrients delivered by the vascular tissues of the parental plants to the embryo. As a part of Brassica Seed Genomic programs at PBI, we focus on investigating the gene expression landscape and metabolic network in the endosperm. Using a combination of EST, proteomic and microarray analyses, we hope to identify molecular markers and genetic engineering targets for improving seed traits in Canola.
Publications
Chen Q, Steinhauer L, Hammerlindl J, Keller W, Zou J. Biosynthesis of phytosterol esters: identification of a sterol o-acyltransferase in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2007;145(3):974-984.
Shen W, Wei Y, Dauk M, Tan Y, Taylor DC, Selvaraj G, Zou J. Involvement of a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in modulating the NADH/NAD+ ratio provides evidence of a mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2006;18(2):422-441.
Zheng Z, Xia Q, Dauk M, Shen W, Selveraj G, Zou J. Arabidopsis AtGPAT1, a member of the membrane-bound glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene family, is essential for tapetum differentiation and male fertility. Plant Cell. 2003;15(8):1872-1887.
Zheng Z, Zou J. The initial step of the glycerolipid pathway: identification of glycerol-3-phosphate/dihydroxyacetone phosphate dual substrate acyltransferases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem. 2001;276(45):41710-41716.
Zou J, Wei Y, Jako C, Kumar A, Selvaraj G, Taylor DC. The Arabidopsis thaliana TAG1 mutant has a mutation in a diacylglycerol acyltransferase gene. Plant J. 1999;19(6):645-653.
