Research topics
The decrease of the reserves of fossil energies and the prospect for climate changes make the search of renewable energy sources and new energetic vectors priority. The world of the microalgae and the cyanobacteria constitutes a great tank of biodiversity hardly explored (30 000 species described , nearly a million estimated). Some of these photosynthetic organisms developed particular metabolic capacities like the capacity to produce hydrogen or to accumulate storage lipids in significant amount by using water, CO2 and solar energy as major resources.
Research aims at exploring the potential of these organisms for the durable production of biofuel (hydrogen, biodiesel).
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Topic 1 : Photobiologic Production of Hydrogen The purpose of our research is to understand the metabolic pathways and the electron transfer pathways involved in the process of hydrogen photoproduction, to identify the regulatory mechanisms and to propose innovative strategies to optimize the production capacities |
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Topic 2 : Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Storage Lipid We are studying the molecular mechanisms of oil accumulation in microalgae. In particular, we aim at identifying master regulators of oil biosynthetic pathways in order to maximize the capacity of lipid production by microalgae (biodiesel). |