Chloroplast budding mediates β-carotene transport for early stage astaxanthin hyperaccumulation in microalgae

Key Points

• Chloroplast budding is crucial for increasing beta-carotene transport into the cytoplasm, enhancing astaxanthin production.
• This process reveals effective transport mechanisms and offers a novel target for boosting carotenoid accumulation in microalgae.
• Maximizing astaxanthin production could significantly impact industries like aquaculture and cosmetics, due to its high commercial value.
• Further exploration of microalgal metabolism may lead to improved methods for astaxanthin enrichment in biotechnological applications.