About this Research Topic
Microalgae are an important group of photoautotrophic microorganisms widely distributed in diverse ecosystems around the globe. Through efficient photosynthesis, microalgae provide essential primary production to support the carbon and oxygen cycling in the biosphere. Therefore, they have also been proposed to be promising microbial platforms for photosynthetic production. In the last decades, the rise of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering technologies has significantly remodeled microalgal photosynthetic metabolism networks, facilitating the conversion of carbon dioxide and solar energy conversion into dozens of natural or non-natural metabolites. In addition, the application scenarios of microalgae have also been expanded to bioremediation, biophotovoltaics, and biomedical therapy, through interdisciplinary technology cooperation and integration. However, both the expansion of cultivation and the expansion of application areas are placing more demanding criteria on the physiological and metabolic characteristics of artificially engineered microalgae strains that are difficult to meet with the model strains currently utilized.
Toward industrialization of microalgal technology and engineering, developing next-generation microalgal chassis cells with designable and editable genomes, predictable and controlled physiological, and metabolic activities, and reliable cellular robustness in flexible environments would be significant. Achieving this goal will undoubtedly require a deeper understanding of genetic, physiological, and metabolic activities, more effective enabling approaches for synthetic biology, and more comprehensive genome modifications. Therefore, this topic emphasizes the progress and perspectives for engineering novel microalgal chassis cells with synthetic biology tools and other classical approaches.
Types of manuscripts to be featured mainly include Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and Reviews relevant to the theme of design, construction, and application of microalgal chassis cells. Please note that submissions must be hypothesis drivers. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
• Development and optimization of microalgal synthetic biology toolboxes for genome engineering and metabolic engineering
• Reconstruction and application of microalgal genome-scale metabolism models or networks
• Genome reduction or synthesis of microalgae both on in silico and in vivo scales
• Characterization, reconstruction, and modulization of physiological and metabolic functions in microalgae
• Evolution or redesign of microalgal chassis cells for improved photosynthesis efficiency and performances
• Development of microalgal cell factories for photosynthetic production of bioenergy, biochemicals, and other high-value-added products
• Optimization of microalgal industrial properties including (but not limited to) environmental stress tolerances and cell harvesting properties
Toward industrialization of microalgal technology and engineering, developing next-generation microalgal chassis cells with designable and editable genomes, predictable and controlled physiological, and metabolic activities, and reliable cellular robustness in flexible environments would be significant. Achieving this goal will undoubtedly require a deeper understanding of genetic, physiological, and metabolic activities, more effective enabling approaches for synthetic biology, and more comprehensive genome modifications. Therefore, this topic emphasizes the progress and perspectives for engineering novel microalgal chassis cells with synthetic biology tools and other classical approaches.
Types of manuscripts to be featured mainly include Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and Reviews relevant to the theme of design, construction, and application of microalgal chassis cells. Please note that submissions must be hypothesis drivers. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
• Development and optimization of microalgal synthetic biology toolboxes for genome engineering and metabolic engineering
• Reconstruction and application of microalgal genome-scale metabolism models or networks
• Genome reduction or synthesis of microalgae both on in silico and in vivo scales
• Characterization, reconstruction, and modulization of physiological and metabolic functions in microalgae
• Evolution or redesign of microalgal chassis cells for improved photosynthesis efficiency and performances
• Development of microalgal cell factories for photosynthetic production of bioenergy, biochemicals, and other high-value-added products
• Optimization of microalgal industrial properties including (but not limited to) environmental stress tolerances and cell harvesting properties
Keywords: Microalgae, Cyanobacteria, Chassis cells, Synthetic biology, Genome engineering
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
