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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Algae01:28

Overview of Algae

The kingdom Archaeplastida encompasses red and green algae, along with land plants. Unlike other protists with chloroplasts that arose through secondary endosymbiosis, only red and green algae originated from primary endosymbiotic events. This diverse group of eukaryotic organisms contains chlorophyll and performs oxygenic photosynthesis.Algae exist in various forms, from large brown kelp in coastal waters to green scum in puddles and stains on rocks or soil. Some species are responsible for...
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Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
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The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
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Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
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Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
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The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

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Solving Challenges in Microalgae-Based Living Materials.

Friedrich Hans Kleiner1, Jeong-Joo Oh1, Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam1

  • 1Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, The Netherlands.

ACS Synthetic Biology
|February 21, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Engineered living materials (ELMs) with microalgae offer unique biological features but face challenges. This work explores strategies to enhance their reliability and lifespan by understanding cellular stress and implementing design and genetic improvements.

Keywords:
Microalgaeengineered living materialsgenetic modificationliving hydrogelphotosynthesisstress responses

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Area of Science:

  • Material Science and Biology
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Engineered living materials (ELMs) integrate biological components with material science for novel functionalities.
  • Photosynthetic microalgae-based ELMs are gaining attention for their unique properties.
  • Current photosynthetic ELMs face limitations in reliability, lifespan, and scalability due to complex interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize potential strategies for improving photosynthetic engineered living materials (ELMs).
  • To emphasize understanding the cellular perspective and stresses within ELMs.
  • To discuss solutions for enhancing ELM lifetime and functionality.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of current research on photosynthetic ELMs.
  • Analysis of cellular stresses and limitations in existing ELM designs.
  • Exploration of organism selection, material design adjustments, and genetic engineering approaches.

Main Results:

  • Identification of recurring flaws in current ELMs that impose cellular stress.
  • Discussion of various solutions including organism choice, material design, and genetic tools.
  • Highlighting the need for a cell-centric approach to ELM development.

Conclusions:

  • Improving ELM reliability and lifespan requires addressing cellular stress and optimizing material-biology interactions.
  • Strategic selection of organisms, material design, and genetic modifications are key to advancing photosynthetic ELMs.
  • A deeper understanding of the cell's perspective is crucial for developing robust and functional ELMs.