Recent breakthroughs in integrated biomolecular and biotechnological approaches for enhanced lipid and carotenoid production from microalgae

Microalgae have been studied for their ability to photosynthesize natural chemicals with industrial and biomedical implications. Bioproducts from microalgae are gaining more and more attention due to their promising future, special properties, current demand and increasing energy costs. Bioproducts from microalgae are considered sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient food sources. However, low yields and high production costs limit the commercial potential of microalgae. To address these challenges, genetically engineered microalgal strains can produce algal biomass with high lipid and/or carotenoid synthesis for efficient biomedical use and other applications. Genetic modification and metabolic engineering of microalgal species can help produce extremely stress-tolerant strains with enhanced bioproduct properties. Several studies have shown that these approaches significantly affect lipid and carotenoid production by microalgae. This review article addresses recent breakthroughs in the genetic and metabolic evolution of microalgae and focuses on lipid and carotenoid synthesis for biomedical applications. Metabolic and genomic design of microalgae will help promote and commercialize their products. The need to integrate such systems to support microalgal research is also highlighted.