Epigenetics plays important roles in adaptation processes in microalgae. Due to fluctuating ambient conditions, cells must continually convert fundamental biological pathways, which entail alterations in gene expression. At the molecular level, epigenetics includes heritable or reversible chemical modifications targeting DNA and surrounding histone proteins that can alter tertiary and quaternary DNA structures and thus affect transcription factor access and gene expression. Chlorophyceae exhibit very specific types of epigenetic regulation. To date, little is known about the epigenetic mechanisms involved in stress adaption and metabolite production. Thus, a deeper understanding of microalgal biochemical pathways is required. To enable further elucidation of these pathways, the present study summarizes the currently available information about epigenetic changes that occur in microalgae during environmental stress exposure. The review focuses primarily on the effects of light, heat shock and nutrient element intake to prompt further research on the regulatory mechanisms and metabolic pathways of microalgae.

表观遗传学在微藻的适应过程中起着重要作用。由于环境条件的变化，细胞必须不断转换基本的生物学途径，这需要基因表达的改变。在分子水平上，表观遗传学包括针对DNA和周围组蛋白的可遗传或可逆化学修饰，它们可以改变三级和四级DNA结构，从而影响转录因子的访问和基因表达。绿藻科表现出非常特殊的表观遗传调控类型。迄今为止，关于应激适应和代谢产物产生的表观遗传机制知之甚少。因此，需要对微藻生化途径有更深入的了解。为了进一步阐明这些途径，本研究总结了有关环境胁迫暴露期间微藻中发生的表观遗传变化的当前可用信息。这篇综述主要集中在光，热休克和营养元素摄入的影响上，以促进对微藻调节机制和代谢途径的进一步研究。