Roland Douce

Secondary education at the Marcelin Berthelot high school and the Arsonval college in Saint-Maur, baccalaureate in experimental sciences, 1958. Graduate studies at the University of Paris, natural sciences degree, 1961, PhD thesis, University of Paris, 1970 "Structure, localization and metabolism of diphosphatidylglycerol, or cardiolipin, in plants"(1)

• Assistant, University of Paris, 1961,
• Master's assistant, University of Paris, 1965.
• Post Doctoral Fellow, 1970 to 1972, at the Johnson Research Foundation in Philadelphia (USA) in the group of Professor Walter D. Bonner Jr.
• Research Assistant, 1972 to 1973 at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego (USA) in the group of Professor Andrew A. Benson.
• Professor University of Grenoble, 1973–2004, Professor Emeritus after 2004.

• Creator and head of the Laboratory of Cell and Plant Physiology, University of Grenoble, associated with CNRS, CEA and INRA until 1991.
• Scientific adviser at the CEA, 1979.
• Scientific adviser at Rhône-Poulenc-Agrochimie, 1982.
• Creator and head of the CNRS-Rhône-Poulenc-Agrochimie joint research unit, 1985–1997.
• Head of the Plant Physiology Department at INRA, 1985–1990.
• Director of research at the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 1995–1998.
• Director of the Jean-Pierre Ebel Institute of Structural Biology in Grenoble, 2002–2005.

In addition to these responsibilities, he participated in numerous scientific committees, including the national committee of the CNRS

Roland Douce taught at all university levels. He was an outstanding, and passionate teacher. He had a profound impact on many of his students. He was a senior member of the Institut Universitaire de France, 1992–2002.

Author of nearly 250 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals and numerous journal articles and book chapters. Main journals: Biochemical Journal (35), Journal of Biological Chemistry (27), European Journal of Biochemistry (20), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (12), Plant Physiology (50), Biochemistry (8), Biochimica Biophysica Acta (13), FEBS Letters (14), Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (13).

Cell and whole plant physiology, specialising in chloroplasts and mitochondria, cell metabolism, especially energy metabolism, amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis. Biochemistry, molecular biology and structural biology. Botany and ornithology.

The first contribution of Roland Douce was the characterization of cardiolipin, the major lipid of the mitochondrial membrane of plants and animals, as phosphatidyl ethanolamine.Thèse de doctorat d’état, Paris, 1970, Structure, localisation et métabolisme du diphosphatidylglycérol, ou cardiolipine, dans les plantes

He then considerably improved the methods of purification of chloroplasts and mitochondria, and obtained the first envelope preparations.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Douce R, Christensen EL, Bonner WD Jr |date=1972 |title=Preparation of intact plant mitochondria |journal=Biochim Biophys Acta |volume=275 |issue=2 |pages=148–160|doi=10.1016/0005-2728(72)90035-7 |pmid=4342337 }}{{Cite journal |vauthors=Douce R, Holz RB, Benson AA |date=1973 |title=solation and properties of the envelope of spinach chloroplasts |journal=J Biol Chem |volume=248 |issue=20 |pages=7215–7222|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(19)43381-4 |pmid=4147558 |doi-access=free }} He was the first to show that the chloroplast shell is the site of biosynthesis of galactolipids and in particular MGDG, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Douce R|date=1974|title=Site of biosynthesis of galactolipids in spinach chloroplast|journal=Science|volume=183|issue=4127|pages=852–853|doi=10.1126/science.183.4127.852|pmid=17780772|bibcode=1974Sci...183..852D|s2cid=40258381}} With his team, he characterized the lipid{{Cite journal|vauthors=Siebertz HP, Heinz E, Joyard J, Douce R|date=1979|title=Characterization of Lipids from Chloroplast Envelopes|journal=European Journal of Biochemistry|volume=101|issue=2|pages=429–438|doi=10.1111/j.1432-1033.1979.tb19736.x|pmid=520307|doi-access=free}} and protein{{Cite journal|vauthors=Joyard J, Grossman A, Bartlett SG, Douce R, Chua NH|title=Characterization of envelope membrane polypeptides from spinach chloroplasts|journal=J. Biol. Chem.|year=1982 |volume=257|issue=2|pages=1095–101|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(19)68312-2|pmid=6798029|doi-access=free}} components of the envelope of the plastids. He succeeded in separating the inner and outer shells.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Block MA, Dorne AJ, Joyard J, Douce R|title=Preparation and characterization of membrane fractions enriched in outer and inner envelope membrane from spinach chloroplasts.|journal=J Biol Chem|year=1983 |volume=258|issue=21|pages=13273–13286|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(17)44112-3|doi-access=free}} This work paved the way for a detailed analysis of the chloroplast, its envelopes and functions.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Douce R, Joyard J|title=Biochemistry and function of the plastid envelope|journal=Annu Rev Cell Biol |year=1990 |volume=6|pages=173–216|doi=10.1146/annurev.cb.06.110190.001133|pmid=2275813}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Joyard J, Teyssier E, Miège C, Berny -Seigneurin D, Maréchal E, Block MA, Dorne AJ, Rolland N, Ajlani G, Douce R|title=The biochemical machinery of plastid envelope membranes|journal=Plant Physiol |year=1998 |volume=118|issue=3|pages=715–723|doi=10.1104/pp.118.3.715|pmid=9808715|pmc=1539194}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Rolland N, Ferro M, Seigneurin-berny D, Garin J, Douce R, Joyard J|title=Proteomics of chloroplast envelope membranes|journal=Photosynthesis Res|year=2003 |volume=78|issue=3|pages=205–230|doi=10.1023/B:PRES.0000006891.12416.6c|pmid=16245052|s2cid=24989550}} Several of the envelope protein genes were cloned, including the MGDG synthase gene.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Miège C, Maréchal E, Shimojima M, Awai K, Block MA, Ohta H, Takamiya K, Douce R, Joyard J|title=Biochemical and topological properties of type A MGDG synthase, a spinach chloroplast envelope enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic MGDG.|journal=Eur J Biochem|year=1999 |volume=265|issue=3|pages=990–1001|doi=10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00801.x|pmid=10518794|doi-access=free}}

Similar work was carried out on the mitochondria with the development of a purification method.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Neuburger M, Journet EP, Bligny R, Carde JP, Douce R|title=Purification of plant mitochondria by isopycnic centrifugation in density gradients of Percoll|journal=Arch Biochem Biophys |year=1982 |volume=217|issue=1|pages=312–323|doi=10.1016/0003-9861(82)90507-0|pmid=6289753}} It was thus be possible to carry out functional analysis, in particular of the proteins involved in photorespiration and the subunits of the glycine-decarboxylase complex.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Cohen-Addad C, Pares S, Sieker L, Neuburger M, Douce R|title=The lipoamide arm in the glycine decarboxylase complex is not freely swinging|journal=Nat Struct Mol Biol |year=1995 |volume=2|issue=1|pages=63–68|doi=10.1038/nsb0195-63|pmid=7719855|s2cid=20456319}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Douce R, Neuburger M|title=Biochemical dissection of photorespiration|journal=Curr Opin Plant Biol |year=1999 |volume=2|issue=3|pages=214–222|doi=10.1016/S1369-5266(99)80038-7|pmid=10375564}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Douce R, Bourguignon J, Neuburger M, Rébeillé F|title=The glycine decarboxylase system: a fascinating complex|journal=Trends Plant Sci|year=2001|volume=(2001) i 6|issue=4|pages=167–176|doi=10.1016/s1360-1385(01)01892-1|pmid=11286922}} Chloroplasts and mitochondria are involved in the biosynthesis of several amino acids and vitamins. Roland Douce, in collaboration with industry, elucidated the biosynthesis pathways of several amino acids, and thus defined several potential targets for herbicide molecules.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Matringe M, Camadro JM, Block MA, Joyard J, Scalla R, labbéP, Douce R|title=Localization within chloroplasts of protoporphyrinogen oxidase, the target enzyme for diphénylether-like herbicides|journal=J Biol Chem|year=1992 |volume=267|issue=7|pages=4646–4651|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(18)42882-7|pmid=1537847|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Biou V, Dumas R, Cohen-Addad C, Douce R, Job D, Pebay-Peyroula E|title=The crystal structure of plant acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase complexed with NADPH, two magnesium ions and a herbicidal transition state analog determined at 1.65 A resolution|journal=EMBO J |year=1997 |volume=16|issue=12|pages=405–3415|doi=10.1093/emboj/16.12.3405|pmid=9218783|pmc=1169966}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Ravanel S, Block MA, Rippert P, Jabrin S, Curien G, Rébeillé F, Douce R|title=Methionine metabolism in plants: chloroplasts are autonomous for de novo methionine synthesis and can import S-adenosyl methionine from the cytosol|journal=J Biol Chem|year=2004 |volume=279|issue=21|pages=22548–22557|doi=10.1074/jbc.M313250200|pmid=15024005|s2cid=25396725|doi-access=free}} Similarly, he elucidated the biosynthesis pathways of biotin{{Cite journal|vauthors=Alban C, Job D, Douce R|title=Biotin metabolism in plants|journal=Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol|year=2000|volume=(2000), 5|pages=17–47|doi=10.1146/annurev.arplant.51.1.17|pmid=15012185}} and tetrahydrofolic acid (vitamin B12).{{Cite journal|vauthors=Ravanel S, Douce R, Rébeillé F |title=Metabolism of folates in plants|journal=Adv Bot Res|series=Advances in Botanical Research|year=2011 |volume=59|pages=67–106|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-385853-5.00004-0|isbn=9780123858535}}

The last part of Roland Douce's work deals with plant metabolism, under normal physiological conditions, or under conditions of stress (nutrient deficiency, light or heat stress).{{Cite journal|vauthors=Roby C, Martin JB, Bligny R, Douce R|title=Biochemical changes during sucrose deprivation in higher plant cells. Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies.|journal=J Biol Chem|year=1987 |volume=262|issue=11|pages=5000–5007|doi=10.1016/S0021-9258(18)61145-7|pmid=3031035|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Lenne C, Douce R|title=A low molecular weight heat shock protein is localized to higher plant mitochondria|journal=Plant Physiol|year=1994 |volume=105|issue=4|pages=1255–1261|doi=10.1104/pp.105.4.1255|pmid=12232281|pmc=159456|s2cid=25854688}} In this work, he greatly contributed to promoting the use of nuclear magnetic resonance in plant physiology.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Bligny R, Douce R|title=NMR and plant metabolism|journal=Curr Opin Plant Biol|year=2001 |volume=4|issue=3|pages=191–196|doi=10.1016/S1369-5266(00)00160-6|pmid=11312128}}

Roland Douce was passionate about the mountains and he made a major contribution to renovating and developing the botanical garden of the Col du Lautaret, and to setting up a research laboratory there, associated with the University of Grenoble.{{Cite book|vauthors=Aubert S|title=Jardin botanique alpin du Lautaret|publisher=Edition université J Fourier|year=2013|pages=201}}

He was the author or coordinator of several books or reports on plant mitochondria,{{Cite book|vauthors=Douce R|title=Mitochondria in higher plants: Structure, function and biogenesis|publisher=Academic Press|year=1985|pages=327}} the plant world,{{Cite book|vauthors=Douce R|title=Le monde végétal. Du génome à la plante entière. Académie des sciences. Rapport sur la science et la technologie n°10|publisher=Tec & Doc|year=2000|location=Paris}} transgenic plants,{{Cite book|vauthors=Douce R|title=Les plantes génétiquement modifiées. Académie des sciences. Rapport sur la science et la technologie n°13|publisher=Tec & Doc|year=2002|location=Paris}} and hypotheses on the origin of life.{{Cite book|vauthors=Douce R, Postaire E|title=Les origines du vivant. Une équation à plusieurs inconnues|publisher=Folio Essais, Gallimard|year=2016}} He also coordinated two volumes of the Advances in Botanical Research series on vitamin biosynthesis.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Rebeille F, Douce R|title=Biosynthesis of vitamins in plants, part A: Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5|journal=Adv Bot Res|year=2011 |volume=58|pages=1–289}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Rebeille F, Douce R|title=Biosynthesis of vitamins in plants, part B: Vitamins B6, B8, B9, C, E, K.|journal=Adv Bot Res|year=2011 |volume=59|pages=1–2896303}}

Awards

• 1982: Silver medal from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
• 1990: Correspondent of the Academie des Sciences, Paris
• 1992-2002: Senior member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)
• 1996: Member of the Academie des Sciences, Paris, Integrative Biology Section
• 1995: Foreign Correspondent Award of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
• 1997: Member of the National Academy of Sciences (USA)
• 2001: Elected Senior Scientist at Oxford University, United Kingdom.
• 2003: Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite
• 2009: Officier of the Légion d’Honneur, France
• 2009: Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
• 2013: Lifetime Achievement Award for Photosynthesis of the Rebeiz Foundation, USA
• 2015: Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite, France

He was married with one daughter, Emmanuelle.

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Category:1939 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:20th-century French botanists

Category:21st-century French botanists

Category:Members of the French Academy of Sciences

Category:Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences

Category:Scripps Institution of Oceanography faculty

Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour

Category:Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite