The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface area and is the largest ecosystem on Earth, yet humans have explored only 20% of it. The term "marine plants" is generally defined broadly to include mangroves, seagrasses, macroalgae, and microalgae. As photosynthetic organisms, marine plants convert carbon dioxide into biological energy by absorbing light energy and releasing oxygen (at least 50% of the oxygen on Earth comes from the ocean), sustaining almost all life forms in the ocean. Some algae live in symbiosis with corals, forming unique tropical coral reef ecosystems, known as the "tropical rainforests of the seabed." This ecosystem provides habitat for approximately 25% of marine species (including over 4,000 fish species). To adapt to the tropical marine environment, "marine plants" have evolved the ability to synthesize special compounds to adapt to specific environments. These compounds include polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., DHA and EPA), polysaccharides (e.g., exopolysaccharides), sterols, pigments (e.g., fucoxanthin and astaxanthin), and other small molecule compounds, such as ultraviolet-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and epidermal cell activating factor 2-αGG. Some of these metabolic compounds have significant medicinal or industrial value, and their biosynthesis, regulation, and application have become current research hotspots. With the continuous development of omics technologies, systems biology, and synthetic biology, combined with traditional analytical chemistry, plant physiology, and molecular biology, great progress has been made in research related to tropical marine plant metabolites. This provides broad prospects for the sustainable development of biological resources that humans rely on for survival and that are closely related to industrial consumption. This special issue aims to showcase current research status and future trends by publishing high-quality papers in related research fields, promoting the exploration and understanding of high-value compounds derived from tropical marine plants. We strictly invite you to submit research articles, short communications, reviews, and perspectives related to these topics.
Album Introduction (Special Issue Introduction)
Topics include but are not limited to:
Discovery of new compounds;
Characterization of key enzymes;
Elucidation of biosynthetic pathways;
Metabolic engineering of high-value compounds;
Synthetic biology and high-value compounds from marine plants;
Natural products from marine plants;
Downstream applications of high-value compounds from marine plants;
Breeding, cultivation, and production of marine algal species.
Guest Editors:
Mao Yunxiang, Hainan Tropical Ocean University/Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), China
Kalyanee Paithoonrangsarid, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand
Lei Anping, Shenzhen University, China
Zhang Wenjun, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Lu Yandu, Hainan University, China
Xin Yi, Hainan University, China
Submission Deadline:
Full Draft: May 1, 2023
The submission deadline may be extended based on specific circumstances. All papers will be published online after acceptance.
Submission Instructions:
Please submit your complete manuscript to Tropical Plants via the online submission system (mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/trop). When submitting, please select Special Issue: Exploring value-added compounds from tropical marine plants and indicate the name of the special issue in the cover letter.
Special Issue Details:
https://www.maxapress.com/tp/specials/61
For further consultation, please contact the guest editors:
Mao Yunxiang (yxmao@hntou.edu.cn)
Kalyanee Paithoonrangsarid (kalyanee.pai@kmutt.ac.th)
Lei Anping (bioaplei@szu.edu.cn)
Zhang Wenjun (wzhang@scsio.ac.cn)
Lu Yandu (ydlu@ainanu.edu.cn)
Xin Yi (xinyi@hainanu.edu.cn)