Conference: Gordon Research Conference, Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function Jan 30-Feb 4, 2011, Galveston, TX.

智力优势：脂质是所有细胞生命所必需的基本大分子。脂类是细胞隔间的分界，是能量产生膜的组成部分，是支持生长和发育的存储储备，也是细胞通信网络中的信号。植物油是人类卡路里的主要来源，包括所有哺乳动物必需的饮食成分。植物油在美国能源独立中继续发挥着越来越重要的作用，在生物柴油应用和生物经济中的石油化工原料方面提供了非凡的前景。此外，越来越多的植物来源的脂类具有重要的治疗应用。因此，重要的是，植物脂类成为一组不同科学家进行详细、协调的研究工作的重点。尽管脂质几乎涉及生物学的方方面面，对社会的重要性，但到目前为止，脂类是主要细胞成分中最不为人所知的，在大型植物生物学会议上往往是一个代表不足的话题。作为回应，2007年发起了一次新的戈登研究会议，题为植物脂类：结构、代谢和功能。第一次会议于2009年2月举行，有143名与会者参加，其中81%的人在科学、讨论、管理、气氛和适宜性方面对会议的评价“高于平均水平”。基于这一积极评价，第二届戈登植物油脂研究会议将于2011年2月举行。第二次会议将加快植物脂类领域的研究生产力。大会将继续推动植物脂质领域的两个小组和概念的整合，一个小组侧重于生物化学和分子生物学，一个小组侧重于脂质信号功能。九个会议主题将广泛讨论当代植物脂类研究的重要生物学、分析或生物技术方面，并将为讨论该领域的最新发现和趋势提供保护伞。广泛影响：会议将促进研究突破的广泛传播，支持该领域年轻科学家的招募，并鼓励植物脂界广泛参与指导未来研究方向。会议将向所有对植物脂类感兴趣的研究人员开放，并将提供一个展示最新研究成果的场所，为青年科学家提供联网机会，并为开发和交流有用的脂类资源和新思想提供一个论坛。这一背景将有助于分享广泛的见解，使植物脂肪研究人员社区能够发挥既得利益合作伙伴网络的作用。讨论领导人和发言者代表了级别、地理区域和性别的多样性。将鼓励代表人数不足的少数群体参与者提出申请，一个专门的委员会将帮助确定和支持不同的参与。奖励资金将抵消尽可能多的参与学生、博士后研究人员和年轻研究人员的会议费用。这对于植物脂肪研究界的活力和持续发展是很重要的。

Intellectual Merit: Lipids are fundamental macromolecules required for all cellular life. Lipids delimit cellular compartments, are components of energy generating membranes, serve as storage reserves to support growth and development and act as signals in cellular communication networks. Plant-derived oils provide a major source of calories for humans and include essential dietary components required by all mammals. Plant oils continue to play an increasingly important role in US energy independence offering remarkable promise in biodiesel applications and oleochemical feedstocks in a bio-based economy. Furthermore, there are growing numbers of examples of plant-derived lipids that have important therapeutic applications. It is important, therefore, for plant lipids to be at the focus of a detailed, coordinated research effort by a diverse group of scientists. Despite their involvement in virtually all aspects of biology and importance to society, lipids are by far the least well understood of the major cellular components and tend to be an underrepresented topic at large plant biology meetings. In response, a new Gordon Research Conference was launched in 2007 entitled Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function. The first conference took place in February 2009 with 143 conferees, of whom 81% rated the meeting "above average" on science, discussion, management, atmosphere and suitability. Based on this positive evaluation, the second Gordon Research Conference on Plant Lipids will take place in February of 2011. This second conference will accelerate research productivity in the field of plant lipids. The conference will continue to promote the integration of two groups and concepts in the field of plant lipids, one group with a focus on biochemistry and molecular biology and one group with a focus on lipid signaling functions. Nine session themes will broadly address important contemporary biological, analytical, or biotechnological aspects of plant lipid research and will provide an umbrella for a discussion of the newest findings and trends in the field.Broader Impacts: The conference will facilitate wide dissemination of research breakthroughs, support recruitment of young scientists to the field and encourage broad participation of the plant lipid community in guiding future directions for research. The conference will be open to all researchers interested in plant lipids and will provide a venue for the presentation of the latest research results, networking opportunities for young scientists, and a forum for the development and exchange of useful lipid resources and new ideas. The setting will facilitate the sharing of a broad range of insights enabling the community of plant lipid researchers to function as a network of vested partners. The discussion leaders and speakers represent diversity in rank, geographical area and gender. Applications from underrepresented minority participants will be encouraged and a dedicated committee will help to identify and support diverse participation. Award funds will offset meeting costs for as many participating students, postdoctoral researchers and young investigators as possible. This is important for the vitality and sustained growth of the plant lipid research community.