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Adnan M, Liu G. Promoters and Synthetic Promoters in Trichoderma reesei. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2844:47-68. [PMID: 39068331 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4063-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Trichoderma reesei holds immense promise for large-scale protein production, rendering it an excellent subject for deeper exploration using genetic engineering methods to achieve a comprehensive grasp of its cellular physiology. Understanding the genetic factors governing its intrinsic regulatory network is crucial, as lacking this knowledge could impede the expression of target genes. Prior and ongoing studies have concentrated on advancing new expression systems grounded in synthetic biology principles. These methodologies involve utilizing established potent promoters or engineered variations. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have played a pivotal role in identifying robust promoters and expression systems, including light-responsive, copper-inducible, L-methionine-inducible, and Tet-On systems, among others. This chapter seeks to highlight various research endeavors focusing on tunable and constitutive promoters, the impact of different promoters on both native and foreign protein expression, the discovery of fresh promoters, and strategies conducive to future research aimed at refining and enhancing protein expression in T. reesei. Characterizing new promoters and adopting innovative expression systems hold the potential to significantly expand the molecular toolkit accessible for genetically engineering T. reesei strains. For instance, modifying potent inducible promoters such as Pcbh1 by replacing transcriptional repressors (cre1, ace1) with activators (xyr1, ace2, ace3, hap2/3/5) and integrating synthetic expression systems can result in increased production of crucial enzymes such as endoglucanases (EGLs), β-glucosidases (BGLs), and cellobiohydrolases (CBHs). Similarly, robust constitutive promoters such as Pcdna1 can be converted into synthetic hybrid promoters by incorporating activation elements from potent inducible promoters, facilitating cellulase induction and expression even under repressive conditions. Nevertheless, further efforts are necessary to uncover innovative promoters and devise novel expression strategies to enhance the production of desired proteins on an industrial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Adnan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
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Liu D, Garrigues S, de Vries RP. Heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s00253-023-12660-8. [PMID: 37405433 PMCID: PMC10386965 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are able to produce a wide range of valuable proteins and enzymes for many industrial applications. Recent advances in fungal genomics and experimental technologies are rapidly changing the approaches for the development and use of filamentous fungi as hosts for the production of both homologous and heterologous proteins. In this review, we highlight the benefits and challenges of using filamentous fungi for the production of heterologous proteins. We review various techniques commonly employed to improve the heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi, such as strong and inducible promoters, codon optimization, more efficient signal peptides for secretion, carrier proteins, engineering of glycosylation sites, regulation of the unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum associated protein degradation, optimization of the intracellular transport process, regulation of unconventional protein secretion, and construction of protease-deficient strains. KEY POINTS: • This review updates the knowledge on heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi. • Several fungal cell factories and potential candidates are discussed. • Insights into improving heterologous gene expression are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujuan Liu
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Garrigues
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica Y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Yang J, Yue HR, Pan LY, Feng JX, Zhao S, Suwannarangsee S, Chempreda V, Liu CG, Zhao XQ. Fungal strain improvement for efficient cellulase production and lignocellulosic biorefinery: Current status and future prospects. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129449. [PMID: 37406833 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) has been recognized as a valuable carbon source for the sustainable production of biofuels and value-added biochemicals. Crude enzymes produced by fungal cell factories benefit economic LCB degradation. However, high enzyme production cost remains a great challenge. Filamentous fungi have been widely used to produce cellulolytic enzymes. Metabolic engineering of fungi contributes to efficient cellulase production for LCB biorefinery. Here the latest progress in utilizing fungal cell factories for cellulase production was summarized, including developing genome engineering tools to improve the efficiency of fungal cell factories, manipulating promoters, and modulating transcription factors. Multi-omics analysis of fungi contributes to identifying novel genetic elements for enhancing cellulase production. Furthermore, the importance of translation regulation of cellulase production are emphasized. Efficient development of fungal cell factories based on integrative strain engineering would benefit the overall bioconversion efficacy of LCB for sustainable bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hou-Ru Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Li-Ya Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jia-Xun Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Shuai Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Surisa Suwannarangsee
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phaholyothin Road, Khlong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Verawat Chempreda
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phaholyothin Road, Khlong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Chen-Guang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xin-Qing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Wang L, Xie Y, Chang J, Wang J, Liu H, Shi M, Zhong Y. A novel sucrose-inducible expression system and its application for production of biomass-degrading enzymes in Aspergillus niger. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:23. [PMID: 36782304 PMCID: PMC9926565 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02274-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Filamentous fungi are extensively exploited as important enzyme producers due to the superior secretory capability. However, the complexity of their secretomes greatly impairs the titer and purity of heterologous enzymes. Meanwhile, high-efficient evaluation and production of bulk enzymes, such as biomass-degrading enzymes, necessitate constructing powerful expression systems for bio-refinery applications. RESULTS A novel sucrose-inducible expression system based on the host strain Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611 and the β-fructofuranosidase promoter (PfopA) was constructed. A. niger ATCC 20611 preferentially utilized sucrose for rapid growth and β-fructofuranosidase production. Its secretory background was relatively clean because β-fructofuranosidase, the key enzyme responsible for sucrose utilization, was essentially not secreted into the medium and the extracellular protease activity was low. Furthermore, the PfopA promoter showed a sucrose concentration-dependent induction pattern and was not subject to glucose repression. Moreover, the strength of PfopA was 7.68-fold higher than that of the commonly used glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter (PgpdA) with enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) as a reporter. Thus, A. niger ATCC 20611 coupled with the PfopA promoter was used as an expression system to express a β-glucosidase gene (bgla) from A. niger C112, allowing the production of β-glucosidase at a titer of 17.84 U/mL. The crude β-glucosidase preparation could remarkably improve glucose yield in the saccharification of pretreated corncob residues when added to the cellulase mixture of Trichoderma reesei QM9414. The efficacy of this expression system was further demonstrated by co-expressing the T. reesei-derived chitinase Chi46 and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase Nag1 to obtain an efficient chitin-degrading enzyme cocktail, which could achieve the production of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine from colloidal chitin with a conversion ratio of 91.83%. Besides, the purity of the above-secreted biomass-degrading enzymes in the crude culture supernatant was over 86%. CONCLUSIONS This PfopA-driven expression system expands the genetic toolbox of A. niger and broadens the application field of the traditional fructo-oligosaccharides-producing strain A. niger ATCC 20611, advancing it to become a high-performing enzyme-producing cell factory. In particular, the sucrose-inducible expression system possessed the capacity to produce biomass-degrading enzymes at a high level and evade endogenous protein interference, providing a potential purification-free enzyme production platform for bio-refinery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yijia Xie
- Qingdao Academy, Qingdao, 266111 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Chang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237 People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Wang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Liu
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237 People’s Republic of China
| | - Mei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yaohua Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, People's Republic of China.
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Yao C, Yan M, Li K, Gao W, Li X, Zhang J, Liu H, Zhong Y. The ERAD Pathway Participates in Fungal Growth and Cellulase Secretion in Trichoderma reesei. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:74. [PMID: 36675895 PMCID: PMC9862206 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichoderma reesei is a powerful fungal cell factory for the production of cellulolytic enzymes due to its outstanding protein secretion capacity. Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) plays an integral role in protein secretion that responds to secretion pressure and removes misfolded proteins. However, the role of ERAD in fungal growth and endogenous protein secretion, particularly cellulase secretion, remains poorly understood in T. reesei. Here, we investigated the ability of T. reesei to grow under different stresses and to secrete cellulases by disrupting three major genes (hrd1, hrd3 and der1) involved in the critical parts of the ERAD pathway. Under the ER stress induced by high concentrations of DTT, knockout of hrd1, hrd3 and der1 resulted in severely impaired growth, and the mutants Δhrd1 and Δhrd3 exhibited high sensitivity to the cell wall-disturbing agents, CFW and CR. In addition, the absence of either hrd3 or der1 led to the decreased heat tolerance of this fungus. These mutants showed significant differences in the secretion of cellulases compared to the parental strain QM9414. During fermentation, the secretion of endoglucanase in the mutants was essentially consistent with that of the parental strain, while cellobiohydrolase and β-glucosidase were declined. It was further discovered that the transcription levels of the endoglucanase-encoding genes (eg1 and eg2) and the cellobiohydrolase-encoding gene (cbh1) were not remarkedly changed. However, the β-glucosidase-encoding gene (bgl1) was significantly downregulated in the ERAD-deficient mutants, which was presumably due to the activation of a proposed feedback mechanism, repression under secretion stress (RESS). Taken together, our results indicate that a defective ERAD pathway negatively affects fungal growth and cellulase secretion, which provides a novel insight into the cellulase secretion mechanism in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yaohua Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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Jiang S, Wang Y, Liu Q, Zhao Q, Gao L, Song X, Li X, Qu Y, Liu G. Genetic engineering and raising temperature enhance recombinant protein production with the cdna1 promoter in Trichoderma reesei. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2022; 9:113. [PMID: 38647824 PMCID: PMC10991654 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-022-00607-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Trichoderma reesei is a powerful host for secreted production of proteins. The promoter of cdna1 gene, which encodes a small basic protein of unknown function and high expression, is commonly used for constitutive protein production in T. reesei. Nevertheless, the production level of proteins driven by this promoter still needs to be improved. Here, we identified that the region 600- to 700-bp upstream of the start codon is critical for the efficiency of the cdna1 promoter. Increasing the copy number of this region to three improved the production of a heterologous β-mannanase by 37.5%. Screening of several stressful conditions revealed that the cdna1 promoter is heat inducible. Cultivation at 37 °C significantly enhanced the production of β-mannanase as well as a polygalacturonase with the cdna1 promoter compared with those at 30 °C. Combing the strategies of promoter engineering, multi-copy gene insertion, and control of cultivation temperature, β-mannanase of 199.85 U/mL and relatively high purity was produced in shake flask, which was 6.6 times higher than that before optimization. Taken together, the results advance the understanding of the widely used cdna1 promoter and provide effective strategies for enhancing the production of recombinant proteins in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qinqin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Liwei Gao
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 11 Keyuanjingsi Road, Qingdao, 266101, China.
| | - Xin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xuezhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yinbo Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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Promoter regulation and genetic engineering strategies for enhanced cellulase expression in Trichoderma reesei. Microbiol Res 2022; 259:127011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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