2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

Intramolecular isotope analysis of lipids as a novel biological and environmental proxy

Research Project

Project/Area Number	18H01326
Research Institution	Tokyo Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator	ジルベルトアレキシー東京工業大学, 理学院, 助教 (20726955)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	中川麻悠子東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 特任助教 (20647664)
Project Period (FY)	2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Keywords	lipids / 13C isotope / position-specific
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	We were able to measure the 13C isotope composition of fatty acids from several organisms, including C3, C4 and CAM terrestrial plants. We used preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography to isolate and purify fatty acids from other constituents. We showed that the pattern was reproducible within a given type of plants (Julien, Gilbert et al. in prep). In particular, we have shown that there is an alternation between odd and even positions throughout the carbon chain, which suggested based on previous indirect observations. However, we also identified a key step that is responsible for the position-specific isotope composition of lipids (acetyl-CoA carboxylase). This step is ignored in current models. Therefore our work allowed to shed light on the determinants of position-specific 13C-isotope composition of lipids and of organic molecules in general.
Research Progress Status	令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
Strategy for Future Research Activity	令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。