Microalgae, with high photosynthetic efficiency, fast growth rate, and flexible cultivation mode compared to higher plants, are regarded as the third- or fourth-generation biofuels, and bio-based chemical producers as well as potential sources of high-value products.
Microalgae produce a large variety of metabolites (such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, pigments, etc) in response to varied extracellular environments. These metabolites hold wide application prospects in many fields such as agriculture, aquaculture, pharmaceutical and food industries, and health care.
The efficient production of these metabolites relies on the comprehensive understanding of the basic biology and physiology of the involved microalgae, along with the advancement of the relevant biotechnology and bioengineering techniques.
The accumulation of target metabolites in microalgae is, in most cases, not conducive to rapid cell growth. Many storage metabolites like triacylglycerol (TAG ) and starch are even induced under stress conditions (e.g., nutrient starvation, high irradiance, high CO2 or HCO3- and aberrant salinity), which hinders the overall production of these metabolites from microalgae. There is a pressing need to overcome this conflict before the efficient production of microalgal metabolites can be achieved. Recently, with the development of novel robust analytical biochemistry and molecular manipulation technologies, systems biology and synthetic biology are gaining increasing opportunities to uncover and regulate the stress acclimation and integrated interaction between cell growth and carbon partitioning for metabolite accumulation in microalgae. Meanwhile, novel engineering strategies that regulate algal physiology in response to stress conditions are also emerging with the aims of enhancing microalgal metabolite production.
Based on the above points, the present Research Topic aims to collect a comprehensive update on the biology, biotechnology, and bioengineering of microalgae for various metabolite production in response to stress conditions. We welcome Original Research and Review Articles on the following themes, but not limited to:
· Stress response and tolerance of microalgae for metabolite accumulation
· Systems biology approach for the dissection of metabolites biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms in microalgae in response to stress conditions
· Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for robust microalgal strain construction under stress conditions
· Regulation of microalgae physiology by plant hormones and other chemical inducers for metabolite accumulation under stress conditions
· Novel algal cultivation strategies for efficient metabolite production in microalgae under stress conditions
· Modelling and optimization of stress-induced metabolite production in microalgae
Dr. Wei Xiong is employed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Microalgae, with high photosynthetic efficiency, fast growth rate, and flexible cultivation mode compared to higher plants, are regarded as the third- or fourth-generation biofuels, and bio-based chemical producers as well as potential sources of high-value products.
Microalgae produce a large variety of metabolites (such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, pigments, etc) in response to varied extracellular environments. These metabolites hold wide application prospects in many fields such as agriculture, aquaculture, pharmaceutical and food industries, and health care.
The efficient production of these metabolites relies on the comprehensive understanding of the basic biology and physiology of the involved microalgae, along with the advancement of the relevant biotechnology and bioengineering techniques.
The accumulation of target metabolites in microalgae is, in most cases, not conducive to rapid cell growth. Many storage metabolites like triacylglycerol (TAG ) and starch are even induced under stress conditions (e.g., nutrient starvation, high irradiance, high CO2 or HCO3- and aberrant salinity), which hinders the overall production of these metabolites from microalgae. There is a pressing need to overcome this conflict before the efficient production of microalgal metabolites can be achieved. Recently, with the development of novel robust analytical biochemistry and molecular manipulation technologies, systems biology and synthetic biology are gaining increasing opportunities to uncover and regulate the stress acclimation and integrated interaction between cell growth and carbon partitioning for metabolite accumulation in microalgae. Meanwhile, novel engineering strategies that regulate algal physiology in response to stress conditions are also emerging with the aims of enhancing microalgal metabolite production.
Based on the above points, the present Research Topic aims to collect a comprehensive update on the biology, biotechnology, and bioengineering of microalgae for various metabolite production in response to stress conditions. We welcome Original Research and Review Articles on the following themes, but not limited to:
· Stress response and tolerance of microalgae for metabolite accumulation
· Systems biology approach for the dissection of metabolites biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms in microalgae in response to stress conditions
· Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for robust microalgal strain construction under stress conditions
· Regulation of microalgae physiology by plant hormones and other chemical inducers for metabolite accumulation under stress conditions
· Novel algal cultivation strategies for efficient metabolite production in microalgae under stress conditions
· Modelling and optimization of stress-induced metabolite production in microalgae
Dr. Wei Xiong is employed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
