Comparative transcriptomic analysis of acetate tolerance mechanisms in Chlorella vulgaris following adaptive laboratory evolution

The accumulation of sodium acetate in organic waste streams, such as food waste fermentation liquor, poses a significant challenge to biological treatment processes. The microalga Chlorella vulgaris shows promise for waste valorization but is inherently sensitive to high acetate concentrations, which inhibit growth and limit its application.This project employs an integrated approach combining Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) with transcriptome profiling to decipher the molecular basis of acetate tolerance in C. vulgaris. We evolved a wild-type strain through serial passaging under increasing sodium acetate stress, generating a robust adapted strain (ZJU-MWZ003) capable of thriving at inhibitory concentrations (45 mM). RNA-Seq analysis was performed on both the wild-type and evolved strains cultivated under both permissive (standard medium) and acetate-stress conditions.The generated transcriptomes aim to identify key differentially expressed genes and elucidate the regulatory networks involved in acetate metabolism, stress response, and metabolic re-routing. This study provides a foundational genomic resource for understanding microalgal adaptation to organic waste stressors. The findings are expected to inform the rational engineering of high-performance algal strains for efficient bioremediation and bioresource recovery from acetate-rich wastewaters, contributing to the development of a circular bioeconomy.