Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Phytochemistry. 2019 Jul;163:46-57. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.03.018. Epub 2019 Apr 19.
Diatoms are abundant unicellular marine photosynthetic algae that have genetically diversified their physiology and metabolism while adapting to numerous environments. The metabolic repertoire of diatoms presents opportunities to characterise the biosynthesis and production of new and potentially valuable microalgal compounds, including sterols. Sterols of plant origin, known as phytosterols, have been studied for health benefits including demonstrated cholesterol-lowering properties. In this review we summarise sterol diversity, the unique metabolic features of sterol biosynthesis in diatoms, and prospects for the extraction of diatom phytosterols in comparison to existing sources. We also review biotechnological efforts to manipulate diatom biosynthesis, including culture conditions and avenues for the rational engineering of metabolism and cellular regulation.
硅藻是丰富的单细胞海洋光合藻类，它们在适应众多环境的同时，在生理和代谢上发生了遗传多样化。硅藻的代谢谱为描述新的和潜在有价值的微藻化合物（包括甾醇）的生物合成和生产提供了机会。植物来源的甾醇，称为植物甾醇，因其具有降低胆固醇的特性而被用于健康益处的研究。在这篇综述中，我们总结了甾醇的多样性、硅藻甾醇生物合成的独特代谢特征，以及与现有来源相比提取硅藻植物甾醇的前景。我们还回顾了生物技术在操纵硅藻生物合成方面的努力，包括培养条件和合理工程化代谢和细胞调节的途径。
