Microalgae stress sensing through oxidative phosphorylation drives bioenergy potential: Deciphering mechanisms and future opportunities

The use of microalgal resources as a potential biomaterial for bioenergy production has captured significant attention but requires process optimization to improve efficiency and enhance economic viability. The integral part of microalgae process optimization is to understand how they undergo epigenetic changes as a means of sensing environmental stresses, especially through oxidative phosphorylation. The ability of microalgae to respond to different stress conditions tends to cause epigenetic changes that influence the bioenergy potential of microalgae. This comprehensive review delves into the importance of understanding these epigenetic changes in microalgae and how they can be manipulated to enhance bioenergy potential. The review shows how epigenetic changes in oxidative phosphorylation cause a change that affects cellular energy homeostasis and signal transduction pathways, leading to altered metabolic profiles and stress adaptation strategies. This metabolic change was linked to the change in the gene expression level of different proteins, including Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, cytochrome, and ATPase synthase. The epigenetic change in this protein trigger a change in energy production and photosynthesis efficiency in microalgae, which are vital for the biosynthesis and accumulation of important metabolites useful for biofuel production. The manipulation of these proteins will facilitate the redirection of metabolic flux towards increasing lipid accumulation in microalgae, leading to increased biofuel potential.