Review paper
Advances in editing microalgae genomes
Daboussi, Fayza
Perspectives in Phycology Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017), p. 17 - 23
published: May 1, 2017
manuscript accepted: Mar 13, 2017
manuscript revision received: Mar 13, 2017
manuscript revision requested: Jan 18, 2017
manuscript received: Aug 30, 2016
ArtNo. ESP271000401001, Price: 24.80 €
Abstract
Abstract There have been significant advances in microalgal genomics over the last decade. Nevertheless, there are still insufficient tools for the manipulation of microalgae genomes and the development of microalgae as industrial biofactories. Several research groups have recently contributed to progress by demonstrating that particular nucleases can be used for targeted and stable modifications of the genomes of some microalgae species. The nucleases include Meganucleases, Zinc Finger nucleases, TALE nucleases and, as shown most recently, the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These molecular editing tools allow gene knock-out and gene knock-in manipulations and the introduction of enzyme variants; they will facilitate the study of microalgae and in particular gene function and, thereby favoring exploitation of the metabolic potential of microalgae.
Keywords
Microalgae • biotechnology • targeted genome modifications • engineered nucleases • TALENs • CRISPR/CAS9 system