Marta Carletti works at the Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory (LPCV).

Her project: SEISPE – The Seipin protein of Phaeodactylum: structure and function specificities

Did you know that microalgae can live anywhere, even in the cold snow of Grenoble?

Hello, I’m Marta and I’m from Italy. For the past few years, I have been interested in microalgae and cyanobacteria, which are extremely diverse and fascinating photosynthetic microorganisms. I started studying these organisms during my master’s degree at the University of Padova, where I investigated nitrogen assimilation by the cyanobacterium Synechocystis for wastewater treatment. After an internship at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where I studied cyanophycin production in Nostoc sp. PCC 7120, I joined the Cell and Plant Physiology Laboratory in Grenoble to start my PhD.

In response to environmental stresses, many microalgae produce lipids that have been explored for various applications, such as nutrition and biofuels. Lipid accumulation in microalgae occurs within lipid droplets. In the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, the protein Seipin is critical for the formation of these organelles. In fact, its alteration has important consequences in all organisms in which it has been studied. The focus of my research is to investigate the specificities of function and structure of Seipin in P. tricornutum working in the LIPID Team under the supervision of Dr. Juliette Salvaing.

Grenoble is a dynamic and vibrant city with excellent laboratories and research centers surrounded by beautiful mountains. I am ready to explore the mountains of Grenoble and the secrets of Seipin for the next three years!