304
J. Querellou et al.
of easily fermentable compounds, such as starch and lipids. One example of an
approach that could use algae in this way is the exploitation, of high starch strains
of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Kruse et al. 2005).
8.4.8 Marine Genomics and Algal Biofuels
What can marine genomics contribute to biofuel production? The genomes of a
number of algae have been fully sequenced. These include eukaryotes like the
green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Ostreococcus lucimarinus, and O. tauri,
the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae, and the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana
and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bowler et al. 2008) and several cyanobacteria,
for example, Synechococcus spp (Six et al. 2007). These genomes can provide
important insights into different areas relevant to biofuel production. For example, Ostreococcus tauri is the world’s smallest free-living autotrophic eukaryote has
already contributed to our knowledge about small genomes and will undoubtedly in
the future increase our knowledge about organisms with minimalistic genomes and
thus possibilities of efficient growth since fewer resources are used for non-essential
purposes. Another example is Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a red algal extremophile
which also has a small genome but is adapted to high temperature and low pH. The
genomes of different strains and species of Synechococcus include strains that are
adapted to factors such as different light intensities and these have already provided
insights into antennae structure and function (Six et al. 2007).
The idea of using microalgae as a source of biofuel is relatively new, the strains
that are used are mostly wild-type strains (Sheehan et al. 1998). There is therefore a
considerable room for improvement of the strains used. Strain improvement could
be done both by classical approaches and by genetic modification of the organisms.
In both cases an improved knowledge of their genes and genomes would be a major
advantage in order to direct classical genetics and to optimise genetic modifications.
Below (Table 8.4) are some more general areas that we believe can greatly benefit
from genomics.
8.4.9 Algae as a Cell Factory
Algal transformation to produce so-called “green cell factories” represents a booming area of research with broad implications not only for biofuels, but also speciality
chemicals, high value compounds, food additives and bioremediation (Rosenberg
et al. 2008). Natural substance extraction still constitutes the primary source for a
great number of pharmaceutical molecules. However, as it is possible to identify
genes responsible for the development of a protein, these can then be introduced
into cells in culture, as part of “cell factories” which manufacture on demand, the
desired products. This strategy – the expression of molecules with high added value
J. Querellou et al.
of easily fermentable compounds, such as starch and lipids. One example of an
approach that could use algae in this way is the exploitation, of high starch strains
of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Kruse et al. 2005).
8.4.8 Marine Genomics and Algal Biofuels
What can marine genomics contribute to biofuel production? The genomes of a
number of algae have been fully sequenced. These include eukaryotes like the
green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Ostreococcus lucimarinus, and O. tauri,
the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae, and the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana
and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bowler et al. 2008) and several cyanobacteria,
for example, Synechococcus spp (Six et al. 2007). These genomes can provide
important insights into different areas relevant to biofuel production. For example, Ostreococcus tauri is the world’s smallest free-living autotrophic eukaryote has
already contributed to our knowledge about small genomes and will undoubtedly in
the future increase our knowledge about organisms with minimalistic genomes and
thus possibilities of efficient growth since fewer resources are used for non-essential
purposes. Another example is Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a red algal extremophile
which also has a small genome but is adapted to high temperature and low pH. The
genomes of different strains and species of Synechococcus include strains that are
adapted to factors such as different light intensities and these have already provided
insights into antennae structure and function (Six et al. 2007).
The idea of using microalgae as a source of biofuel is relatively new, the strains
that are used are mostly wild-type strains (Sheehan et al. 1998). There is therefore a
considerable room for improvement of the strains used. Strain improvement could
be done both by classical approaches and by genetic modification of the organisms.
In both cases an improved knowledge of their genes and genomes would be a major
advantage in order to direct classical genetics and to optimise genetic modifications.
Below (Table 8.4) are some more general areas that we believe can greatly benefit
from genomics.
8.4.9 Algae as a Cell Factory
Algal transformation to produce so-called “green cell factories” represents a booming area of research with broad implications not only for biofuels, but also speciality
chemicals, high value compounds, food additives and bioremediation (Rosenberg
et al. 2008). Natural substance extraction still constitutes the primary source for a
great number of pharmaceutical molecules. However, as it is possible to identify
genes responsible for the development of a protein, these can then be introduced
into cells in culture, as part of “cell factories” which manufacture on demand, the
desired products. This strategy – the expression of molecules with high added value