Transgenic microalgae as bioreactors. Issue 19 (27th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Zhi-Cong; Liang, Ming-Hua; Jiang, Jian-Guo
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. Volume 60:Issue 19(2020)
• Page Start: 3195
• Page End: 3213
• Publication Date: 2020-10-27
• Subjects: Microalgae -- genetic modification -- recombinant protein -- metabolic engineering -- bioreactor; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Diet -- Periodicals; Review Literature -- Periodicals; Nutrition; Food; Diet; Review Literature; 664
• DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2019.1680525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8398

Abstract

Abstract: Microalgae are unicellular organisms that act as the crucial primary producers all over the world, typically found in marine and freshwater environments. Most of them can live photo-autotrophically, reproduce rapidly, and accumulate biomass in a short period efficiently. To adapt to the uninterrupted change of the environment, they evolve and differentiate continuously. As a result, some of them evolve special abilities such as toleration of extreme environment, generation of sophisticated structure to adapt to the environment, and avoid predators. Microalgae are believed to be promising bioreactors because of their high lipid and pigment contents. Genetic engineering technologies have given revolutions in the microalgal industry, which decoded the secrets of microalgal genes, express recombinant genes in microalgal genomes, and largely soar the accumulation of interested components in transgenic microalgae. However, owing to several obstructions, the industry of transgenic microalgae is still immature. Here, we provide an overview to emphasize the advantage and imperfection of the existing transgenic microalgal bioreactors.