ESCAPE – Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying hatching processes in Nannochloropsis

Eukaryotic microalgae dominate the world's oceans and contribute to more than 20% of global biotic CO₂ fixation. To survive constant exposure to environmental stress, evolution has equipped microalgae with extremely tough cell walls that act as a protective fortress. But microalgae must also divide - so how do dividing cells escape this fortress?

ESCAPE will elucidate how Nannochloropsis degrades its tough cell wall to release its daughter cells. The goal is to identify and characterize the recalcitrant algaenan layer's enzymatic degradation and uncover potential relationships between algaenan and ketocarotenoid (KC) metabolism.