Symposium on "plant lipids and oxylipids": Proceedings and establishment of a plant lipid network - (Strasbourg, 11-12 July 2001)

A French meeting on plant lipids and oxylipins was held in Strasbourg on Ju ly 10 and 11, 2001. It was attended by 85 scientists and 45 research commun ications were given. Plenary lectures were given by Prof E. Heinz (Homburg) on cerebrosides and sterol glucosides, by Dr R. Verger on liposes as an ex ample of enzyme acting at an oil/water interface and Dr I. Feussner (Gaters leben) on oxylipins. Most of the other communications were dealing with ste rol and isoprenoid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid c omposition of membranes and cold stress, and oxylipins and their role in pl ant/pothogen interactions. A round table conference was held to discuss the opportunity of building a French Plant Lipid network. The suggestion was w elcomed by all participants and the creation of a web site with a directory of scientists, a Protocol book and a bibliographic database was decided. I t was suggested that such a work should be done in close cooperation with s cientists from European Union and US to avoid duplicating efforts.