Biotechnology journalFeb 4, 2018

Advances in Using CRISPR-Cas to Edit Genes in Photosynthetic Microorganisms

CRISPR Gene Editing Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 27, 2026

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas systems are being implemented for genome editing in various microalgal and cyanobacterial species.

Photosynthetic microbes, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, can accumulate valuable compounds from carbon dioxide.
These microbes are considered environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels, potentially reducing carbon footprints.
The application of CRISPR-Cas for genome editing in these species has progressed slowly due to complications.
Strategies to overcome the challenges of CRISPR-Cas genome editing in microalgae and cyanobacteria are discussed.
Future advancements may enhance the capabilities of genome engineering in these organisms.

Simplified

The carbon footprint caused by unsustainable development and its environmental and economic impact has become a major concern in the past few decades. Photosynthetic microbes such as microalgae and cyanobacteria are capable of accumulating value-added compounds from carbon dioxide, and have been regarded as environmentally friendly alternatives to reduce the usage of fossil fuels, thereby contributing to reducing the carbon footprint. This light-driven generation of green chemicals and biofuels has triggered the research for metabolic engineering of these photosynthetic microbes. CRISPR-Cas systems are successfully implemented across a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic species for efficient genome editing. However, the inception of this genome editing tool in microalgal and cyanobacterial species took off rather slowly due to various complications. In this review, we elaborate on the established CRISPR-Cas based genome editing in various microalgal and cyanobacterial species. The complications associated with CRISPR-Cas based genome editing in these species are addressed along with possible strategies to overcome these issues. It is anticipated that in the near future this will result in improving and expanding the microalgal and cyanobacterial genome engineering toolbox.

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Advances in Using CRISPR-Cas to Edit Genes in Photosynthetic Microorganisms

Abstract

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