Lipids are one of the major components of biological membranes including the plasma membrane, which is the interface between the cell and the environment. Membrane lipids also serve as substrates of signalling lipids such as phosphatidic acid, phosphoinositides, sphingolipids, lysophopholipids, oxylipins, N-acylethanolamines, free fatty acids and others. The enzymatic production and metabolism of these signalling molecules are tightly regulated and can rapidly be activated by abiotic stress signals. Abiotic stresses such as temperature stress and drought stress trigger lipid-dependent signalling cascades, which control the expression of gene clusters and activate plant adaptation processes.
Knowledge about lipid signalling targets in plants and their physiological consequences in changing climate conditions is still limited. Advanced understanding of the mechanisms of lipids signalling in response to abiotic stresses is needed for improving plant resistance and to help design effective crop-building strategies.
In this Research Topic, we aim to present an overview of the role of lipids in abiotic stress responses and shed light on the potential for genetic engineering of lipid synthesis genes to improve stress tolerance, which could in turn help to feed the growing world population.
Lipids are one of the major components of biological membranes including the plasma membrane, which is the interface between the cell and the environment. Membrane lipids also serve as substrates of signalling lipids such as phosphatidic acid, phosphoinositides, sphingolipids, lysophopholipids, oxylipins, N-acylethanolamines, free fatty acids and others. The enzymatic production and metabolism of these signalling molecules are tightly regulated and can rapidly be activated by abiotic stress signals. Abiotic stresses such as temperature stress and drought stress trigger lipid-dependent signalling cascades, which control the expression of gene clusters and activate plant adaptation processes.
Knowledge about lipid signalling targets in plants and their physiological consequences in changing climate conditions is still limited. Advanced understanding of the mechanisms of lipids signalling in response to abiotic stresses is needed for improving plant resistance and to help design effective crop-building strategies.
In this Research Topic, we aim to present an overview of the role of lipids in abiotic stress responses and shed light on the potential for genetic engineering of lipid synthesis genes to improve stress tolerance, which could in turn help to feed the growing world population.
