Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory

In recent times, microalgae have emerged as powerful hosts for biotechnological applications, ranging from the production of lipids and specialized metabolites (SMs) of pharmaceutical interest to biofuels, nutraceutical supplements, and more. SM synthesis through bioengineered pathways relies on the...

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Main Authors: Archana Niraula, Amir Danesh, Natacha Merindol, Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi, Isabel Desgagné-Penix
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:BioTech
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6284/14/1/6
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author Archana Niraula
Amir Danesh
Natacha Merindol
Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi
Isabel Desgagné-Penix
author_facet Archana Niraula
Amir Danesh
Natacha Merindol
Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi
Isabel Desgagné-Penix
author_sort Archana Niraula
collection DOAJ
description In recent times, microalgae have emerged as powerful hosts for biotechnological applications, ranging from the production of lipids and specialized metabolites (SMs) of pharmaceutical interest to biofuels, nutraceutical supplements, and more. SM synthesis through bioengineered pathways relies on the availability of aromatic amino acids (AAAs) as an essential precursor. AAAs, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan are also the building blocks of proteins, maintaining the structural and functional integrity of cells. Hence, they are crucial intermediates linking the primary and specialized metabolism. The biosynthesis pathway of AAAs in microbes and plants has been studied for decades, but not much is known about microalgae. The allosteric control present in this pathway has been targeted for metabolic engineering in microbes. This review focuses on the biosynthesis of AAAs in eukaryotic microalgae and engineering techniques for enhanced production. All the putative genes involved in AAA pathways in the model microalgae <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> and <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> are listed in this review.
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spelling doaj-art-43a32b8024124975b967601d37dced712025-08-20T02:42:46ZengMDPI AGBioTech2673-62842025-01-01141610.3390/biotech14010006Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential BiofactoryArchana Niraula0Amir Danesh1Natacha Merindol2Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi3Isabel Desgagné-Penix4Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, CanadaIn recent times, microalgae have emerged as powerful hosts for biotechnological applications, ranging from the production of lipids and specialized metabolites (SMs) of pharmaceutical interest to biofuels, nutraceutical supplements, and more. SM synthesis through bioengineered pathways relies on the availability of aromatic amino acids (AAAs) as an essential precursor. AAAs, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan are also the building blocks of proteins, maintaining the structural and functional integrity of cells. Hence, they are crucial intermediates linking the primary and specialized metabolism. The biosynthesis pathway of AAAs in microbes and plants has been studied for decades, but not much is known about microalgae. The allosteric control present in this pathway has been targeted for metabolic engineering in microbes. This review focuses on the biosynthesis of AAAs in eukaryotic microalgae and engineering techniques for enhanced production. All the putative genes involved in AAA pathways in the model microalgae <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> and <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> are listed in this review.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6284/14/1/6shikimate pathway<i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>chorismate mutase<i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i>metabolic engineering
spellingShingle Archana Niraula
Amir Danesh
Natacha Merindol
Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi
Isabel Desgagné-Penix
Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
BioTech
shikimate pathway
<i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>
chorismate mutase
<i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i>
metabolic engineering
title Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
title_full Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
title_fullStr Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
title_full_unstemmed Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
title_short Aromatic Amino Acids: Exploring Microalgae as a Potential Biofactory
title_sort aromatic amino acids exploring microalgae as a potential biofactory
topic shikimate pathway
<i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>
chorismate mutase
<i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i>
metabolic engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6284/14/1/6
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AT fatmameddebmouelhi aromaticaminoacidsexploringmicroalgaeasapotentialbiofactory
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