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Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function

Gordon Research Conference

Fostering Global Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Resilience Through Diverse Lipids

January 26 - 31, 2025

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center

601 West McKinley Ave.

Pomona, California, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Our overarching theme, "Fostering Global Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Resilience Through Diverse Lipids", spans both fundamental research and practical applications. It encompasses topics such as lipid metabolism in plants and algae, the role of plant lipids in stress tolerance, nutritional significance, sustainable practices, bioenergy, and the interplay with microbes. Discussions will explore innovative strategies for sustainable agriculture and their societal impacts.

The conference commences with a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Plant Lipids, providing graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with a platform to share research, develop professional networks, and discuss career choices in a supportive environment. We encourage early-career scientists to participate in both the GRS and the subsequent GRC.

Join us in addressing global challenges through the diversity of plant lipid biology, driving innovation, sustainability, food security and climate resilience.

To be considered for an oral presentation, please submit your abstract by December 3rd. For poster presentations, please submit by January 10th.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Diversity in Plant Lipid Research Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:15 pm	"The Diverse Role of Thylakoid Membrane Lipids During Maintenance and Stress Responses"
8:15 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:40 pm	"Circadian Oscillation of Glycerolipids in Plant Growth Control"
8:40 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:00 pm	"Inhibiting Triacylglycerol Breakdown in Oilcane Reduces Stomatal Function by Impairing Stomatal Movement During the Dark-to-Light Transition"
9:00 pm - 9:05 pm	Discussion
9:05 pm - 9:25 pm	"Innovation in Plant Oils: Journeys from Laboratory to the Market"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Lipid Metabolism and Function Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Role of Thylakoid Lipids in the Regulation of Photosynthesis"
9:35 am - 9:40 am	Discussion
9:40 am - 9:55 am	"Lipid Metabolism in Duckweed Under Heavy Metal Stress Conditions"
9:55 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:15 am	"Sphingolipid Homeostasis: When is Enough, Enough?"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:05 am	"Discovery of Key Genes Simultaneously Impact Seed Coat and Seed Oil Content of Rapeseed"
11:05 am - 11:10 am	Discussion
11:10 am - 11:25 am	"Role of Arabidopsis Lipins in Lipid Droplet Biogenesis and Lipid Homeostasis"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:00 pm	"The Requirement for Complex Phosphosphingolipids (GIPCs) for Normal Growth and Development Does not Include Sugar Headgroup Specificity in the Moss Physcomitrium Patens"
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm	Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address the interests and needs of all scientists and the challenges they face in their careers. Specifically, the program promotes meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages about barriers to career advancement and strategies to support the professional growth of all members of the community. The GRC Power Hour™ is open to all conference participants. Organizers: , and
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Lipid Trafficking, Remodeling and Transport Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Structure and Function of FAX Proteins: Subcellular Fatty Acid Distribution in the Light of Land Plant Evolution"
8:05 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:25 pm	"Phloem Metabolites Reveal Strategies Towards Enhanced Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:45 pm	"Identification of a Key Gene Influencing Development, Seed Production, and Lipid Accumulation in Brassica Napus"
8:45 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm	"Membrane Lipid Remodeling and Phosphate Starvation Response in Rice"
9:20 pm - 9:25 pm	Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Signaling Molecules Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Getting Attached: Self-Reinforcing Lipid-Protein Interactions at the Plasma Membrane-Actin Interface"
9:35 am - 9:40 am	Discussion
9:40 am - 9:55 am	"Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Distribution and Posttranslational Regulation of the Arabidopsis PI4P 5-Kinase PIP5K1"
9:55 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:15 am	"Patatin-Related Phospholipase A with a Non-Canonical Esterase Motif Modulates Plant Morphology Through Interaction with Heterotrimeric G-Protein a Subunit"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:05 am	"A Lipid Synthase Maintains Metabolic Flux for Jasmonate Synthesis to Regulate Root Growth and Phosphate Homeostasis"
11:05 am - 11:10 am	Discussion
11:10 am - 11:25 am	"Boosting Immunity: The Role of Secreted Sphingolipid in Plant Defense"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:00 pm	"HD-Zip START Lipid Sensors Drive Gene Expression, Elongation Growth, and Cell-Type Differentiation in the Epidermis"
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm	Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Plant Biotic Interactions Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Balancing Act: The Intricate Regulation of Phosphatidic Acid in Plant Immunity"
8:05 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:25 pm	"Closely Related 9-Lipoxygenase Paralogs Differentially Regulate Maize Defense Against Biotrophic and Necrotrophic Pathogens"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:45 pm	"Investigating New Genes Involved in Lipid Exchange During Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis"
8:45 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm	"Green Leaf Volatiles: How They Are Produced and Perceived"
9:20 pm - 9:25 pm	Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Nutritional Security Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Building Milk Fats From the Ground up Using Metabolons, Multifunctional Proteins and Enzyme Cascades"
9:35 am - 9:40 am	Discussion
9:40 am - 9:55 am	"Towards a Better Understanding of the “PC Highway”: How to Study Lipid Flux in Plant Seeds While Avoiding the FAD2 Roadblocks"
9:55 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:15 am	"The Promoter and First Intron of DGAT1 Exert Synergistic Effects on Pollen and Embryo Lipid Accumulation Enabling Replacement of Endogenous Oil Biosynthetic Enzymes with Foreign DGAT1s"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:05 am	"Engineering an Oleaginous Green Alga for Fuel Precursor and Human Milk Fat Substitute"
11:05 am - 11:10 am	Discussion
11:10 am - 11:25 am	"Cottonseed Oil and Human Health"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:45 am	"Lipidomic Studies and Effect of Brassinosteroids on Chilling Injury of Postharvest Avocado"
11:45 am - 11:50 am	Discussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pm	"Anabolic/Catabolic Lipid Dynamics is Crucial to Understanding and Controlling Seed Oil Synthesis"
12:20 pm - 12:25 pm	Discussion
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Environmental Resilience Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Decoding Duckweed's Secret by Investigating Lipid Remodeling in Response to Environmental Stresses"
8:05 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:25 pm	"Glossy2 and Glossy2-like Demonstrate Both Unique and Overlapping Functions in Maize Cuticular Wax Formation"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:45 pm	"Cyanoglobule Lipid Droplets are a Metabolic Compartment of Cyanobacteria Involved in Stress Adaptation"
8:45 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm	"Lipids as Breeding Tools for Developing Heat Tolerance and Improving Climate Resilience in Crops"
9:20 pm - 9:25 pm	Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Advanced Technologies for Plant Lipid Research Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Spatiotemporal Quantitation of Acetyl-CoA Aarboxylase in Arabidopsis using AQUA-MRM"
9:35 am - 9:40 am	Discussion
9:40 am - 9:55 am	"Protein-Protein Interfacial Stability: A Major Determinant of Substrate Specificity in FAS Enzymes?"
9:55 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:15 am	"Potential Gene Candidates to Enhance FFA Production in Cyanobacteria Through New Methodological Advances in ACP Measurement"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:15 am	"Betaine Lipid Transport: A New Method to Study Direction-Specific Lipid Transport In Vivo"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:35 am	"Prospects for Non-Invasive Analysis of Oilseeds Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)"
11:35 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 am	"Functional Analysis of the Auxenochlorella Protothecoides Major Lipid Droplet Protein for Oil Droplet Biogenesis and Designer Lipid Sequestration"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:25 pm	"Biosynthesis of Tobacco Stigma Estolide Oils: Exploring the Liquid Cuticle"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Opportunities and Challenges in the Study of Algal Lipid Metabolism for Biotechnology"
8:05 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:25 pm	"Pennycress (Thlaspi Arvense L.) Seed Size Mutants Affect Seed Oil and Protein Accumulation Differently"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:45 pm	"Unraveling the Teamwork of Novel Player WRINKLED2 with WRI1, DGAT1, and PDAT1 in Crafting Avocado Healthy Oils Synthesis"
8:45 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm	"From Seed to Funiculus: New Perspectives on the Gene Regulation of Seed Oil Biosynthesis and Seed Loading"
9:20 pm - 9:25 pm	Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Closing Remarks
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

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Conference History Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function (GRS)

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