Europole Mer : research consortium on marine science and technology in Brittany

For many it is surprising to consider that the primary role of lipids in the biology of animals is not as fuel depots but as dynamic constituents of membranes.
Works over the last decade have demonstrated striking relationships between membrane lipid compositions and the structural integrity and functional specialization of membrane proteins involved in important cellular processes.
Phylogeny, body size, ontology, metabolism, diet, temperature, salinity are all examples of factors that can effect membrane lipids composition in bivalves and therefore the biochemistry and physiology of animal species.
First aims of the project are to set up techniques that will allow to understand fine mechanisms by which variations of lipid membrane structures influence cellular functions, and among them those associated to mitochondrial energetic and oxidative metabolism in bivalves.
Some of the significant advancements obtained so far will be presented here.