Li Yixuan, Deng Longji, Walker Emma Jane Lougheed, Karas Bogumil J, Mock Thomas
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada.
Plant J. 2025 Mar;121(6):e70102. doi: 10.1111/tpj.70102.
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.
硅藻是光合微藻中种类最多、生态意义最为重大的类群之一，贡献了全球超过20%的初级生产力。它们的生态重要性、独特生物学特性以及遗传易处理性使其成为基因和基因组工程以及代谢重编程的理想目标。在过去几十年里，人们开发了许多遗传方法并应用于这些生物体，以更好地理解单个基因的功能以及它们如何支撑硅藻的代谢。此外，硅藻合成多种高价值代谢物和精细矿物结构的能力为生物技术应用提供了巨大潜力，包括新型药物、营养保健品和生物材料的合成。本综述讨论了硅藻基因工程的最新进展，并不仅为促进硅藻在生物技术各个领域的应用，也为加深我们对它们在自然生态系统中作用的理解提供了前景。
