Dual Roles of Two Malic Enzymes in Lipid Biosynthesis and Salt Stress Response in Dunaliella salina

Advances in multi-omics technologies for identifying metabolic engineering targets and improving lipid production in microalgae

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, are highly valued in the global market due to their physiological effects and health benefits. Concerns related to overfishing and marine ecosystem degradation have driven interest in microalgal lipids as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for PUFA production. Despite some success in commercializing microalgal lipid products, they still fail to meet global demand. Advances in high-throughput omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have deepened the understanding of lipid biosynthesis in microalgae. This review explores the potential of multi-omics approaches to elucidate PUFA biosynthesis pathways, identify key regulatory genes, and optimize metabolic engineering strategies for enhanced lipid production. Additionally, this review discusses how multi-omics technologies address challenges in large-scale cultivation, promoting the industrialization of microalgal lipid productions. These insights provide a foundation for improving microalgal PUFA yields to meet growing global demand.

Functional Characterization of a CruP-Like Isomerase in Dunaliella

Dunaliella bardawil is a marine unicellular green algal that produces large amounts of β-carotene and is a model organism for studying the carotenoid synthesis pathway. However, there are still many mysteries about the enzymes of the D. bardawil lycopene synthesis pathway that have not been revealed. Here, we have identified a CruP-like lycopene isomerase, named DbLyISO, and successfully cloned its gene from D. bardawil. DbLyISO showed a high homology with CruPs. We constructed a 3D model of DbLyISO and performed molecular docking with lycopene, as well as molecular dynamics testing, to identify the functional characteristics of DbLyISO. Functional activity of DbLyISO was also performed by overexpressing gene in both E. coli and D. bardawil. Results revealed that DbLyISO acted at the C-5 and C-13 positions of lycopene, catalyzing its cis-trans isomerization to produce a more stable trans structure. These results provide new ideas for the development of a carotenoid series from engineered bacteria, algae, and plants.