Harnessing systems biology approach for characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in microalgae

Abstract

Systems biology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to understand complex biological processes at the system level. The data, driven by high-throughput omics technologies, can be used to study the underpinning mechanisms of metabolite production under different conditions to harness this knowledge for the construction of regulatory networks, protein networks, metabolic models, and engineering of strains with enhanced target metabolite production in microalgae. In the current study, we comprehensively reviewed the recent progress in the application of these technologies for the characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in microalgae. Moreover, harnessing integrated approaches such as network analysis, meta-analysis, and machine learning models for deciphering the complexity of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways were comprehensively discussed.

Keywords: Carotenoid; Microalgae; Networks; Pathway; System biology.

Fig. 1

Schematic overview of methylerythritol 4-phosphate/1-deoxyd- xylulose 5-phosphate (MEP/DOXP) and Carotenoids biosynthesis pathway in microalgae.

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of light responsive pathways related to astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis. Dotted line represent the energy carrier production and involvement in the pathway, the thin line represent the metabolic pathways involved in beta-carotene production and thick arrows highlighted the main route for the biosynthesis of carotenoids in microalgae.

Fig. 3

Cross talk between Ca2+ signaling pathway, ROS and Carotenoid biosynthesis pathways under stress condition.

Fig. 4

Activation of carotenoids biosynthesis pathways by transcription factors (TFs) under stress condition. Dotted line represents the interaction of different elements in the regulatory network predicted in microalgae (Bajhaiya et al., 2017).