Advances in engineering microalgae for heterologous terpenoid synthesis: A review.

Microalgae are highlighted as advantageous eukaryotic hosts for heterologous terpenoid synthesis, offering endogenous terpenoid pathways, precursor pools, and plant-like regulatory structures.

• Why it matters: Plant extraction and chemical synthesis are constrained by low purity, difficult separation, and complex steps, while conventional hosts struggle with complex terpenoid biosynthetic pathways.
• What they did: This review systematically summarizes advances in heterologous terpenoid production in eukaryotic microalgae, covering MEP/MVA pathway regulation, gene expression optimization, subcellular compartmentalization, and cultivation intensification.
• The result: It outlines engineering strategies and emerging tools (CRISPR/Cas, microalgae–microorganism co-culture, and artificial intelligence), and identifies key bottlenecks and future research directions for microalgae as sustainable green cell factories.

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