Naturally Occuring Lipids

More than just H(CH₂)_nCO₂H, a greasy chain!

Lipids provide critical cellular partitions required for the function of living cells, are used for metabolic energy storage, are the main constituents of certain renewable fuels (biodiesel), and are precursors to many biological signaling molecules.  Our research is driven by the belief that the understanding and controlling the physical and biochemical processes involving lipids and cellular membranes is key to tackling many significant problems in the area of human health, energy and renewable resources.

We have pursued a range of research paths in this theme: (i) Biosynthesis and Properties of Estolide-Containing Plant Oils, (ii) Biosynthesis of Acetylenic Natural Products from Fungi; (iii) Alkamides Biosynthesis from Plants; and (iv) Investigating the Biosynthesis and Anticancer Activities of Triterpenes from Plants and Medicinal Mushrooms.