A homologous production system for Trichoderma reesei secreted proteins in a cellulase-free background

Characterization of a copper responsive promoter and its mediated overexpression of the xylanase regulator 1 results in an induction-independent production of cellulases in Trichoderma reesei

BACKGROUND

Trichoderma reesei represents an important workhorse for industrial production of cellulases as well as other proteins. The large-scale production is usually performed in a substrate-inducing manner achieved by a fine-tuned cooperation of a suite of transcription factors. Their production and subsequent analysis are, however, often either difficult to manipulate or complicated by the concomitant production of other inducible proteins. Alternatives to control gene expression independent of the nutritional state are thus preferred in some cases to facilitate not only biochemical studies of proteins but also genetic engineering of the producer.

RESULTS

We identified a copper transporter encoding gene tcu1 (jgi:Trire2:52315) in T. reesei, the transcription of which was highly responsive to copper availability. Whereas excess copper repressed the expression of tcu1 from T. reesei, eliminating copper addition in the medium resulted in a high-level transcription of tcu1. The usefulness of the system was further illustrated by the high-level expression of specific cellulases driven by the tcu1 promoter in T. reesei when cultivated on D-glucose or glycerol as the sole carbon source. A recombinant T. reesei strain, which overexpressed the main transcription activator of hydrolases (xylanase regulator 1) under the control of tcu1 promoter, was found to be relieved from the carbon catabolite repression and thus displayed a constitutive cellulase expression. Moreover, the amount and activities of cellulases produced by this strain on glycerol or glucose fully recapitulated those of the parental strain produced on Avicel.

CONCLUSION

Expression of T. reesei tcu1 gene was tightly controlled by copper availability, and a homologous protein expression system was developed based on this promoter. Deregulation of XYR1 (xylanase regulator 1) mediated by the tcu1 promoter not only overcame the carbon catabolite repression of cellulases but also resulted in their full expression even on the non-inducing carbon sources.

Efficient production and evaluation of lignocellulolytic enzymes using a constitutive protein expression system in Penicillium oxalicum

Native lignocellulolytic enzyme systems secreted by filamentous fungi can be further optimized by protein engineering or supplementation of exogenous enzyme components. We developed a protein production and evaluation system in cellulase-producing fungus Penicillium oxalicum. First, by deleting the major amylase gene amy15A, a strain Δ15A producing few extracellular proteins on starch was constructed. Then, three lignocellulolytic enzymes (BGL4, Xyn10B, and Cel12A) with originally low expression levels were successfully expressed with selected constitutive promoters in strain Δ15A. BGL4 and Cel12A overexpression resulted in increased specific filter paper activity (FPA), while the overexpression of Xyn10B improved volumetric FPA but not specific FPA. By switching the culture medium, this platform is convenient to produce originally low-expressed lignocellulolytic enzymes in relatively high purities on starch and to evaluate the effect of their supplementation on the performance of a complex cellulase system on cellulose.

Mutagenesis of Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I: impact of expression host on activity and stability at elevated temperatures

BACKGROUND

Trichoderma reesei is a key cellulase source for economically saccharifying cellulosic biomass for the production of biofuels. Lignocellulose hydrolysis at temperatures above the optimum temperature of T. reesei cellulases (~50°C) could provide many significant advantages, including reduced viscosity at high-solids loadings, lower risk of microbial contamination during saccharification, greater compatibility with high-temperature biomass pretreatment, and faster rates of hydrolysis. These potential advantages motivate efforts to engineer T. reesei cellulases that can hydrolyze lignocellulose at temperatures ranging from 60-70°C.

RESULTS

A B-factor guided approach for improving thermostability was used to engineer variants of endoglucanase I (Cel7B) from T. reesei (TrEGI) that are able to hydrolyze cellulosic substrates more rapidly than the recombinant wild-type TrEGI at temperatures ranging from 50-70°C. When expressed in T. reesei, TrEGI variant G230A/D113S/D115T (G230A/D113S/D115T Tr_TrEGI) had a higher apparent melting temperature (3°C increase in Tm) and improved half-life at 60°C (t1/2 = 161 hr) than the recombinant (T. reesei host) wild-type TrEGI (t1/2 = 74 hr at 60°C, Tr_TrEGI). Furthermore, G230A/D113S/D115T Tr_TrEGI showed 2-fold improved activity compared to Tr_TrEGI at 65°C on solid cellulosic substrates, and was as efficient in hydrolyzing cellulose at 60°C as Tr_TrEGI was at 50°C. The activities and stabilities of the recombinant TrEGI enzymes followed similar trends but differed significantly in magnitude depending on the expression host (Escherichia coli cell-free, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, or T. reesei). Compared to N.crassa-expressed TrEGI, S. cerevisiae-expressed TrEGI showed inferior activity and stability, which was attributed to the lack of cyclization of the N-terminal glutamine in Sc_TrEGI and not to differences in glycosylation. N-terminal pyroglutamate formation in TrEGI expressed in S. cerevisiae was found to be essential in elevating its activity and stability to levels similar to the T. reesei or N. crassa-expressed enzyme, highlighting the importance of this ubiquitous modification in GH7 enzymes.

CONCLUSION

Structure-guided evolution of T. reesei EGI was used to engineer enzymes with increased thermal stability and activity on solid cellulosic substrates. Production of TrEGI enzymes in four hosts highlighted the impact of the expression host and the role of N-terminal pyroglutamate formation on the activity and stability of TrEGI enzymes.

Heterologous protein expression in Hypocrea jecorina: a historical perspective and new developments

Hypocrea jecorina, the sexual teleomorph of Trichoderma reesei, has long been favored as an industrial cellulase producer, first utilizing its native cellulase system and later augmented by the introduction of heterologous enzymatic activities or improved variants of native enzymes. Expression of heterologous proteins in H. jecorina was once considered difficult when the target was an improved variant of a native cellulase. Developments over the past nearly 30 years have produced strains, vectors, and selection mechanisms that have continued to simplify and streamline heterologous protein expression in this fungus. More recent developments in fungal molecular biology have pointed the way toward a fundamental transformation in the ease and efficiency of heterologous protein expression in this important industrial host. Here, 1) we provide a historical perspective on advances in H. jecorina molecular biology, 2) outline host strain engineering, transformation, selection, and expression strategies, 3) detail potential pitfalls when working with this organism, and 4) provide consolidated examples of successful cellulase expression outcomes from our laboratory.

The VELVET A orthologue VEL1 of Trichoderma reesei regulates fungal development and is essential for cellulase gene expression

Trichoderma reesei is the industrial producer of cellulases and hemicellulases for biorefinery processes. Their expression is obligatorily dependent on the function of the protein methyltransferase LAE1. The Aspergillus nidulans orthologue of LAE1 - LaeA - is part of the VELVET protein complex consisting of LaeA, VeA and VelB that regulates secondary metabolism and sexual as well as asexual reproduction. Here we have therefore investigated the function of VEL1, the T. reesei orthologue of A. nidulans VeA. Deletion of the T. reesei vel1 locus causes a complete and light-independent loss of conidiation, and impairs formation of perithecia. Deletion of vel1 also alters hyphal morphology towards hyperbranching and formation of thicker filaments, and with consequently reduced growth rates. Growth on lactose as a sole carbon source, however, is even more strongly reduced and growth on cellulose as a sole carbon source eliminated. Consistent with these findings, deletion of vel1 completely impaired the expression of cellulases, xylanases and the cellulase regulator XYR1 on lactose as a cellulase inducing carbon source, but also in resting mycelia with sophorose as inducer. Our data show that in T. reesei VEL1 controls sexual and asexual development, and this effect is independent of light. VEL1 is also essential for cellulase gene expression, which is consistent with the assumption that their regulation by LAE1 occurs by the VELVET complex.

Isolation and characterization of a novel endoglucanase from a Bursaphelenchus xylophilus metagenomic library

A novel gene (designated as cen219) encoding endoglucanase was isolated from a Bursaphelenchus xylophilus metagenomic library by functional screening. Sequence analysis revealed that cen219 encoded a protein of 367 amino acids. SDS-PAGE analysis of purified endoglucanase suggested that Cen219 was a monomeric enzyme with a molecular mass of 40 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH for endoglucanase activity of Cen219 was separately 50°C and 6.0. It was stable from 30 to 50°C, and from pH 4.0 to 7.0. The activity was significantly enhanced by Mn²⁺ and dramatically reduced by detergent SDS and metals Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ or Hg²⁺. The enzyme hydrolyzed a wide range of β-1, 3-, and β-1, 4-linked polysaccharides, with varying activities. Activities towards microcrystalline cellulose and filter paper were relatively high, while the highest activity was towards oat gum. The K_m and V_max of Cen219 towards CMC was 17.37 mg/ml and 333.33 U/mg, respectively. The findings have an insight into understanding the molecular basis of host–parasite interactions in B. xylophilus species. The properties also make Cen219 an interesting enzyme for biotechnological application.

Development of highly efficient, low-cost lignocellulolytic enzyme systems in the post-genomic era

The current high cost of lignocellulolytic enzymes is a major bottleneck in the economic bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. Fungal lignocellulolytic enzyme systems are secreted at high levels, making them the most promising starting points for further development of highly efficient lignocellulolytic enzyme systems. In this paper, recent advances in improvement of fungal lignocellulolytic enzyme systems are reviewed, with an emphasis on the achievements made using genomic approaches. A general strategy for lignocellulolytic enzyme system development is proposed, including the improvement of the hydrolysis efficiencies and productivities of current enzyme systems. The applications of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis methods in examining the composition of native enzyme systems, discovery of novel enzymes and synergistic proteins from natural sources, and understanding of regulatory mechanisms for lignocellulolytic enzyme biosynthesis are summarized. By combining systems biology and synthetic biology tools, engineered fungal strains are expected to produce high levels of optimized lignocellulolytic enzyme systems.