Algae is not a taxonomical term, but rather a common name for different phyla of non-flowering photosynthetic organisms, most of which live in water. It is generally believed that algae originated from separate endosymbiosis events wherein the prokaryotic cyanobacteria (aka. blue-green algae) were captured by eukaryotic hosts. Some algae are ancestors of land plants (the so-called “green lineage”).
With an evolutionary history spanning billions of years, algae have developed drastically different shapes (single-cell phytoplanktons to macrophytic seaweeds), and have adapted to a broad range of habitats (acidic springs to desserts). Algae and cyanobacteria are widely used to study the early evolution of plants and multicellularity, adaptivity to extreme environments, the metabolism and regulation of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the regulation of fundamental cellular processes like cell division and flagellate assembly.
Because of their evolutionary diversity, algae display drastic variation in their physiological processes, even at the interspecific level. Elucidating their metabolic pathways and physiological adaptions will not only facilitate an in-depth understanding of the origin and early evolution of plants, but also help to improve land crops for resistance, productivity, and nutritional quality.
Here we present a Research Topic which brings together the latest progress from studies on algal metabolism. We especially welcome studies (genetic, biochemical, physiological, etc.) on uncharacterized algal species/metabolites, metabolic adaption/s, and acclimation to unique stressful environments. Synthetic biological studies utilizing algal genes for genetically modifying crops or heterologously producing valuable natural products are also of special interest. We also welcome evolutionary studies of algal metabolisms.
Taxonomic (including molecular systematics), morphological, and biogeographical studies, as well as pure bioinformatic analyses of existing data, are not within the scope of this Research Topic.
Topic Editor Ben Lucker is co-founder of Prosel Biosciences. The other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the Research Topic.
Algae is not a taxonomical term, but rather a common name for different phyla of non-flowering photosynthetic organisms, most of which live in water. It is generally believed that algae originated from separate endosymbiosis events wherein the prokaryotic cyanobacteria (aka. blue-green algae) were captured by eukaryotic hosts. Some algae are ancestors of land plants (the so-called “green lineage”).
With an evolutionary history spanning billions of years, algae have developed drastically different shapes (single-cell phytoplanktons to macrophytic seaweeds), and have adapted to a broad range of habitats (acidic springs to desserts). Algae and cyanobacteria are widely used to study the early evolution of plants and multicellularity, adaptivity to extreme environments, the metabolism and regulation of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the regulation of fundamental cellular processes like cell division and flagellate assembly.
Because of their evolutionary diversity, algae display drastic variation in their physiological processes, even at the interspecific level. Elucidating their metabolic pathways and physiological adaptions will not only facilitate an in-depth understanding of the origin and early evolution of plants, but also help to improve land crops for resistance, productivity, and nutritional quality.
Here we present a Research Topic which brings together the latest progress from studies on algal metabolism. We especially welcome studies (genetic, biochemical, physiological, etc.) on uncharacterized algal species/metabolites, metabolic adaption/s, and acclimation to unique stressful environments. Synthetic biological studies utilizing algal genes for genetically modifying crops or heterologously producing valuable natural products are also of special interest. We also welcome evolutionary studies of algal metabolisms.
Taxonomic (including molecular systematics), morphological, and biogeographical studies, as well as pure bioinformatic analyses of existing data, are not within the scope of this Research Topic.
Topic Editor Ben Lucker is co-founder of Prosel Biosciences. The other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the Research Topic.