Rapid induction of lipid droplets in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris by Brefeldin A.

Algal lipids are the focus of intensive research because they are potential sources of biodiesel. However, most algae produce neutral lipids only under stress conditions. Here, we report that treatment with Brefeldin A (BFA), a chemical inducer of ER stress, rapidly triggers lipid droplet (LD) formation in two different microalgal species, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris.

Mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine level modulates Cyt c oxidase activity to maintain respiration capacity in Arabidopsis thaliana rosette leaves.

Phosphatidylethanolamine is the predominant phospholipid of the mitochondrial inner membrane. In Arabidopsis, pect1-4 mutants exhibit reduced cellular phosphatidylethanolamine levels owing to reduced CTP:phosphorylethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (PECT; EC 2.7.