Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A Factory of Nutraceutical and Food Supplements for Human Health

Abstract

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) is one of the most well-studied microalgae organisms that revealed important information for the photosynthetic and metabolic processes of plants and eukaryotes. Numerous extensive studies have also underpinned its great potential as a biochemical factory, capable of producing various highly desired molecules with a direct impact on human health and longevity. Polysaccharides, lipids, functional proteins, pigments, hormones, vaccines, and antibodies are among the valuable biomolecules that are produced spontaneously or under well-defined conditions by C. reinhardtii and can be directly linked to human nutrition and diet. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances in the field focusing on the most relevant applications related to the production of important biomolecules for human health that are also linked with human nutrition and diet. The limitations and challenges are critically discussed along with the potential future applications of C. reinhardtii biomass and processed products in the field of nutraceuticals and food supplements. The increasing need for high-value and low-cost biomolecules produced in an environmentally and economy sustainable manner also underline the important role of C. reinhardtii.

Keywords: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; GRAS; biotechnologies; health; high-value compounds; nutraceutical.

Figure 1

Chloroplast transformation in C. reinhardtii. Reprinted from ref. [103].

Figure 2

Genetic tools to develop microalgae as a platform for the biomanufacturing of commercial products. Bioinformatic algorithms are used to analyze algal genome sequences, resulting in codon optimization and motif discovery techniques that allow the design of strong expression vectors for the genetic transformation of algae strains. Regulatory elements, such as promoters and transcription factors, allow recombinant gene expression and manipulation of metabolic pathways to obtain products of interest. Random mutagenesis and genome shuffling can further drive the algal production strains toward desired phenotypes. These tools are being utilized to explore the industrial production of foods, fuels, materials, and medicines from microalgae. Reprinted with permission from ref. [155]. Copyright 2021 Elsevier.

Figure 3

MoClo for the green microalga C. reinhardtii. It is based on Golden Gate Cloning with standard syntax and comprises 119 openly distributed genetic parts, most of which have been functionally validated in several strains. Reprinted with permission from ref. [156]. Copyright 2018 ACS Publications.