CRISPR-Cas Tools for Dissecting and Engineering Environmental Responses in Microalgae.

CRISPR-Cas systems enable precise editing of genes in microalgae, improving stress tolerance and metabolic pathways in diverse lineages.

• Why it matters: Understanding and engineering microalgae's complex regulatory networks is crucial for maintaining productivity under variable environmental conditions, yet has been limited by traditional methods.
• What they did: The study reviews applications of CRISPR-Cas in microalgae, including gene dissection, large-scale genome deletions, and reprogramming of lipid and pigment pathways, along with factors affecting editing efficiency.
• The result: Integrating advanced design strategies and multi-omics approaches will enhance CRISPR-Cas effectiveness, enabling better elucidation of regulatory networks and optimization of microalgal traits for environmental resilience.