Transgenic Microalgae as Green Cell Factories

Microalgae have been largely cultured and commercialized as food and feed

additives, and their potential as source of high-added value compounds is well known.

But, in contrast to the large number of genetically modified bacteria, yeast and even

higher plants, only a few species of microalgae have been genetically transformed

with efficiency. Initial difficulties in the expression of foreign genes in microalgae

have been progressively overcome, and powerful molecular tools for their genetic

engineering are now on hand. A considerable collection of promoters and selectable

marker genes and an increasing number of genomic or cDNA sequences have become

available in recent years. More work is needed to transform new species of

microalgae, specially those that have commercial value, so that it would be possible

to increase the productivity of traditional compounds or synthesize novel ones. Silencing

transgenes remains as an important limitation for stable expression of foreign

genes. This problem is not unique to microalgae since it has also been observed

in plants, animals and fungi. A better understanding of the mechanisms that control

the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes is therefore needed.

In this book a group of outstanding researchers working on different areas of

microalgae biotechnology offer a global vision of the genetic manipulation of

microalgae and their applications.