Proteomics unveil a central role for peroxisomes in butyrate assimilation in the heterotrophic Chlorophyte alga Polytomella sp.

Volatile fatty acids found in effluents of the dark fermentation of biowastes can be used for mixotrophic growth of microalgae, improving productivity and reducing the cost of the feedstock. Microalgae can use the acetate in the effluents very well, but butyrate is poorly assimilated and can inhibit growth above 1 gC.L-1. The non-photosynthetic chlorophyte alga Polytomella sp. SAG 198.80 was found to be able to assimilate butyrate fast. To decipher the metabolic pathways implicated in butyrate assimilation, a large-scale differential proteomics study was developed comparing Polytomella sp. cells grown on acetate and butyrate at 1 gC.L-1.