A green light for engineered algae: redirecting metabolism to fuel a biotechnology revolution.

Curr Opin Biotechnol

Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

Published: October 2008

Microalgae have the potential to revolutionize biotechnology in a number of areas including nutrition, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Although algae have been commercially cultivated for over 50 years, metabolic engineering now seems necessary in order to achieve their full processing capabilities. Recently, the development of a number of transgenic algal strains boasting recombinant protein expression, engineered photosynthesis, and enhanced metabolism encourage the prospects of designer microalgae. Given the vast contributions that these solar-powered, carbon dioxide-sequestering organisms can provide to current global markets and the environment, an intensified focus on microalgal biotechnology is warranted. Ongoing advances in cultivation techniques coupled with genetic manipulation of crucial metabolic networks will further promote microalgae as an attractive platform for the production of numerous high-value compounds.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2008.07.008DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

green light
4
light engineered
4
engineered algae
4
algae redirecting
4
redirecting metabolism
4
metabolism fuel
4
fuel biotechnology
4
biotechnology revolution
4
revolution microalgae
4
microalgae potential
4

Similar Publications

Backbone resonance assignments of PhoCl, a photocleavable protein.

Biomol NMR Assign

January 2025

High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.

PhoCl is a photocleavable protein engineered from a green-to-red photoconvertible fluorescent protein by circular permutation, and has been used in various optogenetic applications including precise control of protein localization and activity in cells. Upon violet light illumination, PhoCl undergoes a β-elimination reaction to be cleaved at the chromophore, resulting in spontaneous dissociation into a large empty barrel and a small C-terminal peptide. However, the structural determinants and the mechanism of the PhoCl photocleavage remain elusive, hindering the further development of more robust photocleavable optogenetic tools.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Dysfunction of vasomotor reactions due to arteriolar smooth muscle causes serious adverse events, such as loss of hemodynamic coherence. This in turn can increase risks of cardiovascular-related diseases. A noninvasive and quantitative evaluation of microvascular disorder is therefore very important for early diagnosis and treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are highly valued for their chemical stability, tunable size, and biocompatibility. Utilizing green chemistry, a microwave-assisted synthesis method was employed to produce water-soluble GQDs from Mangifera Indica leaf extract. This approach is efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, offering reduced reaction times, energy consumption, and uniform particle sizes, and has proven advantageous over other methods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ultrasound-guided trigger thumb release.

Hand Surg Rehabil

January 2025

CHU de Nîmes, avenue du Pr Debré, 30000 Nîmes, France.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a novel retrograde ultrasound-guided A1 pulley release technique for the treatment of trigger thumb. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 42 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided A1 pulley release for clinically diagnosed trigger thumb between September 2022 and December 2023. All cases were graded according to the Green classification of trigger finger severity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The inherent heterogeneity, poor compatibility with polymers, and dark color of lignin limit its application in composites. In this study, original lignin (OL) was fractionated sequentially using four green organic solvents to obtain lignin fractions with different chemical structures. These well-defined lignin fractions were then blended with polybutylene succinate (PBS) to fabricate biocomposites.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!