Advancing cyanobacterial biotechnology: new frontiers in natural product discovery and production

Cyanobacteria, as oxygenic phototrophs, offer significant potential for sustainable biotechnology applications. Cyanobacterial natural products, with antimicrobial, anticancer, and plant growth-promoting properties, hold promise in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental remediation. By leveraging advanced technologies, cyanobacteria can significantly impact various industries, supporting the green biotechnology agenda. Recent advancements in integrated omics, orphan gene cluster activation, genetic manipulation, and chemo-enzymatic methods are expanding their biotechnological relevance. Omics technologies revolutionize cyanobacterial natural product research by facilitating biosynthetic gene cluster identification. Heterologous expression and pathway reconstitution enable complex natural product production, while high-titer strategies like metabolic engineering enhance yields. Interdisciplinary research and technological progress position cyanobacteria as valuable sources of bioactive compounds, driving sustainable biotechnological practices forward.