Metabolic engineering of Phaeodactylum tricornutum for heterologous production of the plant triterpenoid friedelin

This is the first study to demonstrate successful biosynthesis of friedelin in a microalgal system, highlighting the potential of P. tricornutum as a sustainable phototrophic chassis for the production of plant-derived triterpenoids. Unlike yeast-based systems, which require extensive metabolic amplification, P. tricornutum enables simpler genetic engineering and simultaneous coproduction of valuable compounds, such as fucoxanthin and Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). These findings lay the groundwork for further strain optimization aimed at increasing friedelin yield and broadening the scope of triterpenoid biosynthesis in microalgae.