Tapping the microalgal potential: genetic precision and stress-induction for enhanced astaxanthin and biofuel production

Abstract

Population growth throughout the world has led to increased pollution and overconsumption of fossil resources. Microalgae are increasingly recognized as sustainable biofactories for producing lipids and astaxanthin, two commercially significant metabolites with wide-ranging applications in biofuel, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. Enhancing the yields of these compounds remains a major challenge due to growth–productivity trade-offs and limited understanding of regulatory mechanisms. This review aims to bridge that gap by providing a comprehensive and comparative analysis of traditional and modern strategies employed to enhance lipid and astaxanthin production in microalgae. We critically evaluate stress-based methods (e.g., salinity, light, nutrient limitation), phytohormone treatments, cultivation system optimization, and genome editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9. Special emphasis is given to gene-level responses and pathway-level regulation involved in these enhancements. This review article highlights the novel synchronization between astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthesis under various stress conditions which emphasizes the role of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymes to enhance astaxanthin accumulation. Editing technologies with base suggest a novel strategy to reduce off-target effects and enhance metabolic efficiency related to lipid and astaxanthin biosynthesis.