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Microalgal lipids hold significant potential for the production of biodiesel and dietary supplements. To enhance their cost-effectiveness and commercial competitiveness, it is imperative to improve microalgal lipid productivity. Metabolic engineering that targets the key enzymes of the fatty acid synthesis pathway, along with transcription factor engineering, are effective strategies for improving lipid productivity in microalgae. This review provides a summary of the advancements made in the past 5 years in engineering the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in eukaryotic microalgae. Furthermore, this review offers insights into transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and transcription factor engineering aimed at enhancing lipid production in eukaryotic microalgae. Finally, the review discusses the challenges and future perspectives associated with utilizing microalgae for the efficient production of lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal lipids hold significant potential for the production of biodiesel and dietary supplements. To enhance their cost-effectiveness and commercial competitiveness, it is imperative to improve microalgal lipid productivity. Metabolic engineering that targets the key enzymes of the fatty acid synthesis pathway, along with transcription factor engineering, are effective strategies for improving lipid productivity in microalgae. This review provides a summary of the advancements made in the past 5 years in engineering the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in eukaryotic microalgae. Furthermore, this review offers insights into transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and transcription factor engineering aimed at enhancing lipid production in eukaryotic microalgae. Finally, the review discusses the challenges and future perspectives associated with utilizing microalgae for the efficient production of lipids.

WRINKLED 1 (WRI1), a member of the AP2/EREBP class of transcription factors, regulates carbon allocation between the glycolytic and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways and plays important roles in other biological events. Previous studies have suggested that post-translational modifications and interacting partners modulate the activity of WRI1. We systematically summarised the structure of WRI1 as well as its molecular interactions during transcription and translation in plants. This work elucidates the genetic evolution and regulatory functions of WRI1 at the molecular level and describes a new pathway involving WRI1 that can be used to produce triacylglycerols (TAGs) in plants. WRINKLED 1 (WRI1) is an AP2/ERBP transcription factors, but previous work on its function has not been systematical. In this review, we systematically summarise the structure of WRI1 , the molecular interactions during transcription and translation in plants. At the same time, we elucidated the genetic evolution and regulatory functions of WRI1 at the molecular level. Furthermore, we described a new pathway involving WRI1 that can be used to produce triacylglycerols (TAGs) in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the major phytohormone-mediated defense pathways, fatty acid (FA) pathways play significant roles in plant defense response and are involved in cross-talk with various phytohormones. Using volume-based analyses we have conducted a gene expression profiling of FA biosynthetic pathway during interaction of oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) with the mutualistic fungus Glomus etunicatum. Inoculation with G. etunicatum stimulated growth and biomass production in oil palm. Here we demonstrated that there is an identical response in root and leaf tissues in gene expression during interaction of oil palm with G. etunicatum at different time points. We find that the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( ACC), β-ketoacyl-ACP synthases ( KAS) II and III, palmitoyl-ACP thioesterase ( PTE), oleoyl-ACP thioesterase ( OTE) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase ( ACT) increased in both root and leaf tissues at 21 and 42 days post-inoculation (dpi). The expression level of these genes was up-regulated approximately threefold in both tissues at 63 dpi, which correlated with the colonization of roots with G. etunicatum and promotion of plant growth. These are likely to be key genes in the defense response of oil palm during symbiotic interaction with G. etunicatum. Together, the results provide a valuable resource to plant resistance mechanism and growth promotion with G. etunicatum. Given the capability of G. etunicatum to colonize oil palm root and enhance expression of FA pathway genes, it is suggested that the fungus has evolved efficient strategies to overcome plant immunity. The fungus can be used to establish a proper transformed progeny of oil palm with increase resistance to biotic stress and promote healthy growth for better oil yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatty acid (FA) signaling pathway is emerging as an important mechanism in plant responses during interactions with microbial organisms. For a comprehensive evaluation of key FA biosynthetic pathway genes during interactions of oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) with the pathogenic Ganoderma boninense and symbiotic Trichoderma harzianum fungal organisms, a lane-based array analysis of gene expression in artificially inoculated oil palm seedlings was performed. The results obtained demonstrated that acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( ACC), β-ketoacyl-ACP synthases ( KAS) II and III, palmitoyl-ACP thioesterase ( PTE), oleoyl-ACP thioesterase ( OTE) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase ( ACT) showed identical responses in root and leaf tissues for the same fungi. The expression of these genes was up-regulated in both root and leaf tissues at 21 days post-inoculation (dpi) during interaction of oil palm with G. boninense. Thereafter, production of physical symptoms occurred at 42 and 63 dpi concomitantly with suppression of expression of these genes. An increase in the expression level of these genes was observed in both tissues at 3-63 dpi, which correlated with the colonization of roots and promotion of plant growth by T. harzianum. These data suggest that FA biosynthetic pathway genes are involved in the defense response of oil palm to infection. Identical plant responses by FA biosynthetic pathway genes may lead to enhanced resistance against G. boninense and could be a useful marker to contribute towards early detection of infection. The distinct expression profile during symbiotic interaction demonstrated its role in plant resistance mechanisms and growth promotion by T. harzianum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]