Phylogenetic Aspects of Higher Plant Lipid Fatty Acid Profile

Humans have been using lipids for many centuries; these are oils found in plants, particularly in seeds. However, relatively recently, it has become clear that lipids are the primary metabolites of any living organism. Fatty acids (FAs) are a structural component of lipids, and their role in building the framework of the lipid bilayer cannot be overstated. They participate in maintaining homeostasis by controlling membrane permeability. Changes in the FA composition of lipid bilayers can modulate the transition of the membrane from a liquid crystalline to a gel-like state. Thus, knowledge of a plant's FA profile can aid in understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying their interaction with the environment and the ways in which they adapt to various stress factors. Throughout the colonization of terrestrial habitats, plants evolved, and new phylogenetic groups appeared; at present, some features of the FA composition of their individual representatives are known. However, the overall change in the composition of lipid FAs during the evolution of higher plants is still not understood. Our analysis of the literature showed that the FA diversity tends to decrease from mosses to angiosperms, mainly due to a reduction in polyunsaturated very-long-chain FAs, while the average acyl chain length remains unchanged. It is important to recognize the trends in this process in order to understand the adaptive capabilities of higher plants. This knowledge can be useful not only from a fundamental point of view, but also in practical human activities.