Lipid Biochemistry

Key scientists:

• Robert Gibson
• Michael James (Royal Adelaide Hospital)
• Enzo Ranieri (SA Pathology)
• Les Cleland
• Melissa Gregory

The unit has a strong interest in understanding the roles of fats and lipids in animal and human nutrition. In particular, there is a focus on the metabolic conversion of the essential fatty acids found in plant oils to the long chain fatty acids (AA, EPA, DHA) that are found in animals and fish. The health benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids are of particular interest.

Standard molecular biology techniques are used to examine the regulators of the key enzymes in the fatty acid pathway. The basic tools used to measure fatty acids and their metabolites are capillary gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

Please contact Foodplus if you are interested in an honours or postgraduate student project in this area of research.