A review on factors affecting algal growth and toxin production based on molecular biology

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) induced by eutrophication have become a global environmental problem recently. With the development of PCR and high-throughput technology, its application in algae genomics and transcriptomics has been promoted. It enriches the algae gene information and provides new method to further study the mechanisms of algal blooms and toxin production. On the perspective of molecular biology, the mechanism of HABs and algal toxins production have become a worldwide hotspot. The environmental factors, such as the physical, chemical and others, are reviewed to find its effects on algae growth and toxin production based on molecular biology. The research progress based on molecular biology is also summarized. This review could be helpful to investigating the mechanisms of algal blooms and toxin production from the perspective of molecular biology. It is significant to clarify their relationship from the perspective of gene expression.