Genome Mining and Metabolic Engineering of Photosynthetic Microbes for Value Addition

Omics technologies including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are essential tools to study the genes, metabolic pathways, and biochemical processes of photosynthetic microbes. Large-scale sequencing of genome and transcriptome has revolutionized microbial photosynthesis research, providing global snapshots of cellular behavior under different conditions. The current chapter highlights the principles and applications of genomics in microalgae and cyanobacteria research, and how these techniques contribute to developing genetically engineered microbes. The chapter also highlights the significance of systems-level technologies in elucidating the control and integration of metabolic pathways, offering potential targets for enhancing the synthesis of value-added chemicals. The advancement of novel and exceptionally effective phenotypes via the production of transgenic microalgae has been expedited by the deliberate targeting of genes employing reverse or forward genetic methodologies. Numerous advancements have been achieved, including enhanced lipid and carbohydrate synthesis, elevated H2 generation, and the redirection of metabolic flow toward certain final outputs. The manipulation of lipid metabolism and the modification of sugar metabolism that is resistant to alteration have the potential to significantly increase both biomass output and lipid yields. The development of modern metabolic engineering tools in photosynthetic microbes has the potential to create cell factories with diverse applications.