Yixuan Li, Longji Deng, Emma Jane Lougheed Walker, Bogumil J. Karas, Thomas Mock
{"title":"Genetic engineering in diatoms: advances and prospects","authors":"Yixuan Li, Longji Deng, Emma Jane Lougheed Walker, Bogumil J. Karas, Thomas Mock","doi":"10.1111/tpj.70102","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diatoms are among the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of photosynthetic microalgae, contributing over 20% of global primary productivity. Their ecological significance, unique biology, and genetic tractability make them ideal targets for genetic and genomic engineering and metabolic reprogramming. Over the past few decades, numerous genetic methods have been developed and applied to these organisms to better understand the function of individual genes and how they underpin diatom metabolism. Additionally, the ability of diatoms to synthesize diverse high-value metabolites and elaborate mineral structures offers significant potential for applications in biotechnology, including the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biomaterials. This review discusses the latest developments in diatom genetic engineering and provides prospects not only to promote the use of diatoms in diverse fields of biotechnology but also to deepen our understanding of their role in natural ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":233,"journal":{"name":"The Plant Journal","volume":"121 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/tpj.70102","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"The Plant Journal","FirstCategoryId":"2","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tpj.70102","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PLANT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Diatoms are among the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of photosynthetic microalgae, contributing over 20% of global primary productivity. Their ecological significance, unique biology, and genetic tractability make them ideal targets for genetic and genomic engineering and metabolic reprogramming. Over the past few decades, numerous genetic methods have been developed and applied to these organisms to better understand the function of individual genes and how they underpin diatom metabolism. Additionally, the ability of diatoms to synthesize diverse high-value metabolites and elaborate mineral structures offers significant potential for applications in biotechnology, including the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biomaterials. This review discusses the latest developments in diatom genetic engineering and provides prospects not only to promote the use of diatoms in diverse fields of biotechnology but also to deepen our understanding of their role in natural ecosystems.
期刊介绍:
Publishing the best original research papers in all key areas of modern plant biology from the world"s leading laboratories, The Plant Journal provides a dynamic forum for this ever growing international research community.
Plant science research is now at the forefront of research in the biological sciences, with breakthroughs in our understanding of fundamental processes in plants matching those in other organisms. The impact of molecular genetics and the availability of model and crop species can be seen in all aspects of plant biology. For publication in The Plant Journal the research must provide a highly significant new contribution to our understanding of plants and be of general interest to the plant science community.