title: Carotenoids in Microalgae.
abstract: Carotenoids are a class of isoprenoids synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms as well as by some non-photosynthetic bacteria and fungi with broad applications in food, feed and cosmetics, and also in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Microalgae represent an important source of high-value products, which include carotenoids, among others. Carotenoids play key roles in light harvesting and energy transfer during photosynthesis and in the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against photooxidative damage. Carotenoids are generally divided into carotenes and xanthophyls, but accumulation in microalgae can also be classified as primary (essential for survival) and secondary (by exposure to specific stimuli).In this chapter, we outline the high value carotenoids produced by commercially important microalgae, their production pathways, the improved production rates that can be achieved by genetic engineering as well as their biotechnological applications.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso-Campus Curauma, Av. Universidad 330, Valparaíso, Chile. vhenriqu@ucv.cl.
authors.forename: Vitalia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Henríquez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso-Campus Curauma, Av. Universidad 330, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso-Campus Curauma, Av. Universidad 330, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Janeth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galarza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso-Campus Curauma, Av. Universidad 330, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gimpel
mesh_terms: D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D001709:Biotechnology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000235:genetics; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: Algae; Astaxanthin; Cetocarotenoids; Dunaliella salina; Haematococcus pluvialis; Metabolic engineering