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Chen Y, Wang J, Wang M, Han A, Zhao X, Wang W, Wei D. Engineering the metabolism and morphology of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei for efficient L-malic acid production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 387:129629. [PMID: 37558099 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
L-malic acid (MA) is a vital platform chemical with huge market demand because of its broad industrial applications. A cell factory for MA production was engineered by strengthening the intrinsic pathway without inserting foreign genes into Trichoderma reesei. The native MA transporter gene in the T. reesei genome was characterized (trmae1), and its overexpression significantly improved MA production, which increased from 2 to 56.24 g/L. Native pyruvate carboxylase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and glucose transporter were overexpressed further to improve the titer and yield of MA production. Fungal morphology was adapted to produce MA in the fermenter by deleting gul1. A titer of 235.8 g/L MA was produced from the final engineered strain in a 5-L fermenter with a yield of 1.48 mol of MA per mol of glucose and productivity of 1.23 g/L/h. This study provides novel insights for understanding and remodeling the MA synthesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China; Luhua Suo, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China; Luhua Suo, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Ao Han
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China; Luhua Suo, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China; Luhua Suo, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Li N, Qiu Z, Cai W, Shen Y, Wei D, Chen Y, Wang W. The Ras small GTPase RSR1 regulates cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:87. [PMID: 37218014 PMCID: PMC10204303 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02341-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable resource in the world and has attracted widespread attention. It can be hydrolyzed into sugars with the help of cellulases and hemicellulases that are secreted by filamentous fungi. Several studies have revealed that the Ras small GTPase superfamily regulates important cellular physiological processes, including synthesis of metabolites, sporulation, and cell growth and differentiation. However, it remains unknown how and to what extent Ras small GTPases participate in cellulase production. RESULTS In this study, we found that the putative Ras small GTPase RSR1 negatively regulated the expression of cellulases and xylanases. Deletion of rsr1 (∆rsr1) significantly increased cellulase production and decreased the expression levels of ACY1-cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway genes and the concentration of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Loss of acy1 based on ∆rsr1 (∆rsr1∆acy1) could further increase cellulase production and the expression levels of cellulase genes, while overexpression of acy1 based on ∆rsr1 (∆rsr1-OEacy1) significantly reduced cellulase production and transcriptional levels of cellulase genes. In addition, our results revealed that RSR1 negatively controlled cellulase production via the ACY1-cAMP-PKA pathway. Transcriptome analysis revealed significantly increased expression of three G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs; tre62462, tre58767, and tre53238) and approximately two-fold higher expression of ACE3 and XYR1, which transcriptionally activated cellulases with the loss of rsr1. ∆rsr1∆ tre62462 exhibited a decrease in cellulase activity compared to ∆rsr1, while that of ∆rsr1∆tre58767 and ∆rsr1∆tre53238 showed a remarkable improvement compared to ∆rsr1. These findings revealed that GPCRs on the membrane may sense extracellular signals and transmit them to rsr1 and then to ACY1-cAMP-PKA, thereby negatively controlling the expression of the cellulase activators ACE3 and XYR1. These data indicate the crucial role of Ras small GTPases in regulating cellulase gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Here, we demonstrate that some GPCRs and Ras small GTPases play key roles in the regulation of cellulase genes in Trichoderma reesei. Understanding the roles of these components in the regulation of cellulase gene transcription and the signaling processes in T. reesei can lay the groundwork for understanding and transforming other filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Zhouyuan Qiu
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wanchuan Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yaling Shen
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
- Jiangsu Yiming Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Suqian, 223699, Jiangsu, China.
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Li N, Li J, Chen Y, Shen Y, Wei D, Wang W. Mechanism of Zn 2+ regulation of cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:73. [PMID: 37118821 PMCID: PMC10148476 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02323-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 is a hypercellulolytic mutant strain that degrades abundant sources of lignocellulosic plant biomass, yielding renewable biofuels. Although Zn2+ is an activator of enzymes in almost all organisms, its effects on cellulase activity in T. reesei have yet to be reported. RESULTS Although high concentrations of Zn2+ severely suppressed the extension of T. reesei mycelia, the application of 1-4 mM Zn2+ enhanced cellulase and xylanase production in the high-yielding cellulase-producing Rut-C30 strain of T. reesei. Expression of the major cellulase, xylanase, and two essential transcription activator genes (xyr1 and ace3) increased in response to Zn2+ stimulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of plc-e encoding phospholipase C, which is involved in the calcium signaling pathway, were enhanced by Zn2+ application. The disruption of plc-e abolished the cellulase-positive influence of Zn2+ in the early phase of induction, indicating that plc-e is involved in Zn2+-induced cellulase production. Furthermore, treatment with LaCl3 (a plasma membrane Ca2+ channel blocker) and deletion of crz1 (calcineurin-responsive zinc finger transcription factor 1) indicated that calcium signaling is partially involved in this process. Moreover, we identified the zinc-responsive transcription factor zafA, the transcriptional levels of which declined in response to Zn2+ stress. Deletion of zafA indicates that this factor plays a prominent role in mediating the Zn2+-induced excessive production of cellulase. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we have demonstrated that Zn2+ is toxic to T. reesei, although promotes a marked increase in cellulase production. This positive influence of Zn2+ is facilitated by the plc-e gene and zafA transcription factor. These findings provide insights into the role of Zn2+ in T. reesei and the mechanisms underlying signal transduction in cellulase synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jing Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yaling Shen
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P. O. Box 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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Li J, Chen Y, Gao A, Wei L, Wei D, Wang W. Simultaneous Production of Cellulase and β-Carotene in the Filamentous Fungus Trichoderma reesei. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:6358-6365. [PMID: 37042195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
β-Carotene is an indispensable additive in beverage, cosmetic, feed, and pharmaceutical production. The fermentation industry annually generates abundant waste mycelia from Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei), a pivotal industrial strain for cellulase and heterologous protein production. In this study, we constructed a T. reesei cell factory for β-carotene production for the first time. Four key enzymes, CarRP, CarB, GGS1/CrtE, and HMG1, were overexpressed in T. reesei. The concentrations of medium components, including tryptone and glucose, were optimized. The modified strain accumulated β-carotene at a titer of 218.8 mg/L in flask culture. We achieved cellulase production (FPase, 22.33 IU/mL) with the concomitant production of β-carotene (286.63 mg/L) from T. reesei in a jar. Overall, this study offers a novel and unique approach to address the costly waste mycelium management process using T. reesei industrial strains that simultaneously produce proteins and carotenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ao Gao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Liujing Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Chen Y, Han A, Wang M, Wei D, Wang W. Metabolic Engineering of Trichoderma reesei for l-Malic Acid Production. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:4043-4050. [PMID: 36812909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c09078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
l-Malic acid has various applications in the chemical and food industries. The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is known to be an efficient enzyme producer. Here, through metabolic engineering, T. reesei was constructed for the first time as an excellent cell factory for l-malic acid production. The heterologous overexpression of genes encoding the C4-dicarboxylate transporter from Aspergillus oryzae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe initiated l-malic acid production. The overexpression of pyruvate carboxylase from A. oryzae in the reductive tricarboxylic acid pathway further increased both the titer and yield of l-malic acid, resulting in the highest titer reported in a shake-flask culture. Furthermore, the deletion of malate thiokinase blocked l-malic acid degradation. Finally, the engineered T. reesei strain produced 220.5 g/L of l-malic acid in a 5 L fed-batch culture (productivity of 1.15 g/L/h). A T. reesei cell factory was created for the efficient production of l-malic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ao Han
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Wang H, Pang AP, Li B, Huo L, Wu FG, Lin F. Intracellular Sugar Transporters Facilitate Cellulase Synthesis in Trichoderma reesei Using Lactose. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020295. [PMID: 36830663 PMCID: PMC9953249 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sugar transporters play an important role in the cellulase production of lignocellulose-degrading fungi. Nevertheless, the role and function of these transporters are still unclear. Here we first report intracellular sugar transporters assisting cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) using lactose. The mRNA levels of sugar transporter genes mfs, gst, and lac1 were substantially upregulated in T. reesei cultivated on lactose, with the most abundant mRNA levels at 24 h as compared to glucose. Moreover, the individual deletion of these sugar transporters significantly inhibited cellulase production, solid cell growth, and sporulation of T. reesei, suggesting they play a supporting role in cellulase production when grown in lactose. Surprisingly, MFS, GST, and LAC1 were mainly localized in the cytoplasm, with MFS and LAC1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), representing the first discovery of intracellular sugar transporters involved in cellulase biosynthesis in lactose culture. The absence of the gene lac1 noticeably inhibited most of the crucial genes related to cellulase production, including cellulase-encoding genes, transcription factors, and sugar transporters, at 24 h, which was fully relieved at 48 h or 72 h, indicating that lac1 affects cellulase production more at the early step. This research advances the understanding of the function of intracellular sugar transporters in fungi, particularly for fungal cellulase production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300453, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Ai-Ping Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Bingzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Liujie Huo
- Helmholtz International Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fu-Gen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Fengming Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300453, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
- Correspondence:
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Gao J, Liu H, Zhang Z, Liang Z. Establishment, optimization, and application of genetic technology in Aspergillus spp. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1141869. [PMID: 37025635 PMCID: PMC10071863 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1141869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus is widely distributed in nature and occupies a crucial ecological niche, which has complex and diverse metabolic pathways and can produce a variety of metabolites. With the deepening of genomics exploration, more Aspergillus genomic informations have been elucidated, which not only help us understand the basic mechanism of various life activities, but also further realize the ideal functional transformation. Available genetic engineering tools include homologous recombinant systems, specific nuclease based systems, and RNA techniques, combined with transformation methods, and screening based on selective labeling. Precise editing of target genes can not only prevent and control the production of mycotoxin pollutants, but also realize the construction of economical and efficient fungal cell factories. This paper reviewed the establishment and optimization process of genome technologies, hoping to provide the theoretical basis of experiments, and summarized the recent progress and application in genetic technology, analyzes the challenges and the possibility of future development with regard to Aspergillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Gao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiqing Liu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Liang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- The Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center of Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhihong Liang,
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Roles of PKAc1 and CRE1 in cellulose degradation, conidiation, and yellow pigment synthesis in Trichoderma reesei QM6a. Biotechnol Lett 2022; 44:1465-1475. [PMID: 36269496 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-022-03312-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to reveal the roles of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit 1 (pkac1) and carbon catabolite repressor cre1 genes in cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei wild-type strain QM6a. Our strategy might be useful to construct a high-yielding cellulase strain for its wide application. METHODS This paper describes cellulase activity, plate conidiation, and yellow pigment synthesis assays of QM6a with the disruption of pkac1 and cre1. RESULTS Deletion of pkac1 (Δpkac1) had no effect on cellulase production or transcript levels of major cellulase genes in the presence of cellulose. Disruption of cre1 (Δcre1) resulted in a remarkable increase in cellulase production and expression of the four major cellulase genes. Double disruption of pkac1 and cre1 significantly improved enzyme activity and protein production. The double disruption also resulted in a significant reduction in yellow pigment production and abrogated conidial production. CONCLUSION Double deletion of pkac1 and cre1 led to increased hydrolytic enzyme production in T. reesei using cellulose as a carbon source.
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Liao B, Chen X, Zhou X, Zhou Y, Shi Y, Ye X, Liao M, Zhou Z, Cheng L, Ren B. Applications of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology in yeast and fungi. Arch Microbiol 2021; 204:79. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02723-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Tomico-Cuenca I, Mach RL, Mach-Aigner AR, Derntl C. An overview on current molecular tools for heterologous gene expression in Trichoderma. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2021; 8:11. [PMID: 34702369 PMCID: PMC8549263 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-021-00119-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are routinely used as biocontrol agents and for the production of industrial enzymes. Trichoderma spp. are interesting hosts for heterologous gene expression because their saprotrophic and mycoparasitic lifestyles enable them to thrive on a large number of nutrient sources and some members of this genus are generally recognized as safe (GRAS status). In this review, we summarize and discuss several aspects involved in heterologous gene expression in Trichoderma, including transformation methods, genome editing strategies, native and synthetic expression systems and implications of protein secretion. This review focuses on the industrial workhorse Trichoderma reesei because this fungus is the best-studied member of this genus for protein expression and secretion. However, the discussed strategies and tools can be expected to be transferable to other Trichoderma species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Tomico-Cuenca
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Strasse 1a, 1060, Wien, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Strasse 1a, 1060, Wien, Austria
| | - Astrid R Mach-Aigner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Strasse 1a, 1060, Wien, Austria
| | - Christian Derntl
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Strasse 1a, 1060, Wien, Austria.
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Chen Y, Wang W, Liu P, Lin A, Fan X, Wu C, Li N, Wei L, Wei D. The novel repressor Rce2 competes with Ace3 to regulate cellulase gene expression in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:1298-1314. [PMID: 34608686 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is widely used for industrial cellulase production. In T. reesei, cellulase gene expression is tightly controlled by a regulatory network involving multiple transcription factors. Here, we isolated a novel protein, Rce2, using a pull-down assay and mass spectrometry analysis, from a partial carbon catabolite de-repression mutant, T. reesei Rut-C30, cultured under glucose-repressing conditions. Deletion and overexpression of Rce2 in T. reesei wild-type QM6a and mutant Rut-C30 revealed that Rce2 acts as a repressor of cellulase gene expression. DNase I footprinting assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Rce2 was located in the nucleus and bound to the consensus sequences 5'-(T/A)NNNNCCG-3' and 5'-CGGNNNN(T/A)-3' in the promoters of cellulase-related genes to repress their transcription. Additionally, Rce2 antagonized Ace3 binding to the cbh1 promoter to repress its transcription. However, Rce2 was not involved in Cre1-mediated carbon catabolite repression. These results demonstrate the mechanism through which Rce2 represses the expression of cellulase genes and provide novel insights into the regulatory system of cellulases and methods that can be used for the regulation of gene expression in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Aibo Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingjia Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Ni Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Liujing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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Trichoderma reesei ACE4, a Novel Transcriptional Activator Involved in the Regulation of Cellulase Genes during Growth on Cellulose. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0059321. [PMID: 34047636 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00593-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is a model strain for cellulase production. Cellulase gene expression in T. reesei is controlled by multiple transcription factors. Here, we identified by comparative genomic screening a novel transcriptional activator, ACE4 (activator of cellulase expression 4), that positively regulates cellulase gene expression on cellulose in T. reesei. Disruption of the ace4 gene significantly decreased expression of four main cellulase genes and the essential cellulase transcription factor-encoding gene ace3. Overexpression of ace4 increased cellulase production by approximately 22% compared to that in the parental strain. Further investigations using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, DNase I footprinting assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that ACE4 directly binds to the promoter of cellulase genes by recognizing the two adjacent 5'-GGCC-3' sequences. Additionally, ACE4 directly binds to the promoter of ace3 and, in turn, regulates the expression of ACE3 to facilitate cellulase production. Collectively, these results demonstrate an important role for ACE4 in regulating cellulase gene expression, which will contribute to understanding the mechanism underlying cellulase expression in T. reesei. IMPORTANCE T. reesei is commonly utilized in industry to produce cellulases, enzymes that degrade lignocellulosic biomass for the production of bioethanol and bio-based products. T. reesei is capable of rapidly initiating the biosynthesis of cellulases in the presence of cellulose, which has made it useful as a model fungus for studying gene expression in eukaryotes. Cellulase gene expression is controlled through multiple transcription factors at the transcriptional level. However, the molecular mechanisms by which transcription is controlled remain unclear. In the present study, we identified a novel transcription factor, ACE4, which regulates cellulase expression on cellulose by binding to the promoters of cellulase genes and the cellulase activator gene ace3. Our study not only expands the general functional understanding of the novel transcription factor ACE4 but also provides evidence for the regulatory mechanism mediating gene expression in T. reesei.
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Rozhkova AM, Kislitsin VY. CRISPR/Cas Genome Editing in Filamentous Fungi. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:S120-S139. [PMID: 33827404 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921140091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The review describes the CRISPR/CAS system and its adaptation for the genome editing in filamentous fungi commonly used for production of enzyme complexes, enzymes, secondary metabolites, and other compounds used in industrial biotechnology and agriculture. In the second part of this review, examples of the CRISPR/CAS technology application for improving properties of the industrial strains of fungi from the Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and other genera are presented. Particular attention is given to the efficiency of genome editing, as well as system optimization for specific industrial producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra M Rozhkova
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
| | - Valeriy Yu Kislitsin
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
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Pang AP, Wang H, Zhang F, Hu X, Wu FG, Zhou Z, Wang W, Lu Z, Lin F. High-dose rapamycin exerts a temporary impact on T. reesei RUT-C30 through gene trFKBP12. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:77. [PMID: 33771193 PMCID: PMC8004424 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01926-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge with respect to regulatory systems for cellulase production is prerequisite for exploitation of such regulatory networks to increase cellulase production, improve fermentation efficiency and reduce the relevant production cost. The target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway is considered as a central signaling hub coordinating eukaryotic cell growth and metabolism with environmental inputs. However, how and to what extent the TOR signaling pathway and rapamycin are involved in cellulase production remain elusive. RESULT At the early fermentation stage, high-dose rapamycin (100 μM) caused a temporary inhibition effect on cellulase production, cell growth and sporulation of Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 independently of the carbon sources, and specifically caused a tentative morphology defect in RUT-C30 grown on cellulose. On the contrary, the lipid content of T. reesei RUT-C30 was not affected by rapamycin. Accordingly, the transcriptional levels of genes involved in the cellulase production were downregulated notably with the addition of rapamycin. Although the mRNA levels of the putative rapamycin receptor trFKBP12 was upregulated significantly by rapamycin, gene trTOR (the downstream effector of the rapamycin-FKBP12 complex) and genes associated with the TOR signaling pathways were not changed markedly. With the deletion of gene trFKBP12, there is no impact of rapamycin on cellulase production, indicating that trFKBP12 mediates the observed temporary inhibition effect of rapamycin. CONCLUSION Our study shows for the first time that only high-concentration rapamycin induced a transient impact on T. reesei RUT-C30 at its early cultivation stage, demonstrating T. reesei RUT-C30 is highly resistant to rapamycin, probably due to that trTOR and its related signaling pathways were not that sensitive to rapamycin. This temporary influence of rapamycin was facilitated by gene trFKBP12. These findings add to our knowledge on the roles of rapamycin and the TOR signaling pathways play in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ping Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Funing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fu-Gen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhihua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fengming Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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Chen Y, Fan X, Zhao X, Shen Y, Xu X, Wei L, Wang W, Wei D. cAMP activates calcium signalling via phospholipase C to regulate cellulase production in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:62. [PMID: 33685506 PMCID: PMC7941909 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is one of the best producers of cellulase and has been widely studied for the production of cellulosic ethanol and bio-based products. We previously reported that Mn2+ and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) can stimulate cellulase overexpression via Ca2+ bursts and calcium signalling in T. reesei under cellulase-inducing conditions. To further understand the regulatory networks involved in cellulase overexpression in T. reesei, we characterised the Mn2+/DMF-induced calcium signalling pathway involved in the stimulation of cellulase overexpression. RESULTS We found that Mn2+/DMF stimulation significantly increased the intracellular levels of cAMP in an adenylate cyclase (ACY1)-dependent manner. Deletion of acy1 confirmed that cAMP is crucial for the Mn2+/DMF-stimulated cellulase overexpression in T. reesei. We further revealed that cAMP elevation induces a cytosolic Ca2+ burst, thereby initiating the Ca2+ signal transduction pathway in T. reesei, and that cAMP signalling causes the Ca2+ signalling pathway to regulate cellulase production in T. reesei. Furthermore, using a phospholipase C encoding gene plc-e deletion strain, we showed that the plc-e gene is vital for cellulase overexpression in response to stimulation by both Mn2+ and DMF, and that cAMP induces a Ca2+ burst through PLC-E. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study reveal the presence of a signal transduction pathway in which Mn2+/DMF stimulation produces cAMP. Increase in the levels of cAMP activates the calcium signalling pathway via phospholipase C to regulate cellulase overexpression under cellulase-inducing conditions. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of the cAMP-PLC-calcium signalling pathway underlying cellulase expression in T. reesei and highlight the potential applications of signal transduction in the regulation of gene expression in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xingjia Fan
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xinqing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yaling Shen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiangyang Xu
- Zaozhuang Jie Nuo Enzyme Co. Ltd., Shandong, China
| | - Liujing Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road , P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
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Wu C, Chen Y, Qiu Y, Niu X, Zhu N, Chen J, Yao H, Wang W, Ma Y. A simple approach to mediate genome editing in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei by CRISPR/Cas9-coupled in vivo gRNA transcription. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:1203-1210. [PMID: 32300998 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02887-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To simplify CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in the industrial filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei based on in vivo guide RNA (gRNA) transcription. RESULTS Two putative RNA polymerase III U6 snRNA genes were identified in the genome of T. reesei QM6a by BLASTN using Myceliophthora. thermophila U6 snRNA gene as the template. The regions approximately 500 bp upstream of two U6 genes were efficient promoters for the in vivo expression of gRNA. The CRISPR system consisting of Cas9 and in vivo synthesized gRNA under control of the T. reesei U6 snRNA promoters was sufficient to cause a frameshift mutation in the ura5 gene via non-homologous end-joining-mediated events. CONCLUSIONS We report a simple gene editing method using a CRISPR/Cas9-coupled in vivo gRNA transcription system in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Wu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yifei Qiu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiao Niu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ningjian Zhu
- The First Affiliated Middle School of East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200086, China
| | - Jiehui Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Hong Yao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Yushu Ma
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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Deng H, Bai Y, Fan TP, Zheng X, Cai Y. Advanced strategy for metabolite exploration in filamentous fungi. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2020; 40:180-198. [PMID: 31906740 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2019.1709798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi comprise an abundance of gene clusters that encode high-value metabolites, whereas affluent gene clusters remain silent during laboratory conditions. Complex cellular metabolism further limits these metabolite yields. Therefore, diverse strategies such as genetic engineering and chemical mutagenesis have been developed to activate these cryptic pathways and improve metabolite productivity. However, lower efficiencies of gene modifications and screen tools delayed the above processes. To address the above issues, this review describes an alternative design-construction evaluation optimization (DCEO) approach. The DCEO tool provides theoretical and practical principles to identify potential pathways, modify endogenous pathways, integrate exogenous pathways, and exploit novel pathways for their diverse metabolites and desirable productivities. This DCEO method also offers different tactics to balance the cellular metabolisms, facilitate the genetic engineering, and exploit the scalable metabolites in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiang Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technologies, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yajun Bai
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Tai-Ping Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiaohui Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Yujie Cai
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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Chen Y, Wu C, Fan X, Zhao X, Zhao X, Shen T, Wei D, Wang W. Engineering of Trichoderma reesei for enhanced degradation of lignocellulosic biomass by truncation of the cellulase activator ACE3. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2020; 13:62. [PMID: 32266008 PMCID: PMC7110754 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is a major workhorse employed to produce cellulase, which hydrolyzes lignocellulosic biomass for the production of cellulosic ethanol and bio-based products. However, the economic efficiency of biorefineries is still low. RESULTS In this study, the truncation of cellulase activator ACE3 was identified and characterized in T. reesei classical mutant NG14 and its direct descendants for the first time. We demonstrated that the truncated ACE3 is the crucial cause of cellulase hyper-production in T. reesei NG14 branch. Replacing the native ACE3 with truncated ACE3 in other T. reesei strains remarkably improves cellulase production. By truncating ACE3, we engineered a T. reesei mutant, PC-3-7-A723, capable of producing more cellulase than other strains. In a 30-L fermenter, fed-batch fermentation with PC-3-7-A723 drastically increased the maximum cellulase titer (FPase) to 102.63 IU/mL at 240 h, which constitutes a 20-30% improvement to that of the parental strain PC-3-7. CONCLUSIONS This work characterized the function of truncated ACE3 and demonstrated that analysis of classical mutants allows rational engineering of mutant strains with improved cellulase production necessary to process lignocellulosic biomass. Our rational engineering strategy might be useful for enhancing the production of other bio-based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Chuan Wu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Xingjia Fan
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Xinqing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Xihua Zhao
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022 China
| | - Tao Shen
- Sunson Industry Group Co, Ltd,, Beijing, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
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Zhang J, Chen Y, Wu C, Liu P, Wang W, Wei D. The transcription factor ACE3 controls cellulase activities and lactose metabolism via two additional regulators in the fungus Trichoderma reesei. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18435-18450. [PMID: 31501242 PMCID: PMC6885621 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.008497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are a rich source of enzymes, such as cellulases and hemicellulases, that can degrade lignocellulosic biomass and are therefore of interest for biotechnological approaches seeking to optimize biofuel production. The essential transcription factor ACE3 is involved in cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei; however, the mechanism by which ACE3 regulates cellulase activities is unknown. Here, we discovered that the nominal ace3 sequence in the T. reesei genome available through the Joint Genome Institute is erroneously annotated. Moreover, we identified the complete ace3 sequence, the ACE3 Zn(II)2Cys6 domain, and the ACE3 DNA-binding sites containing a 5'-CGGAN(T/A)3-3' consensus. We found that in addition to its essential role in cellulase production, ace3 is required for lactose assimilation and metabolism in T. reesei Transcriptional profiling with RNA-Seq revealed that ace3 deletion down-regulates not only the bulk of the major cellulase, hemicellulase, and related transcription factor genes, but also reduces the expression of lactose metabolism-related genes. Additionally, we demonstrate that ACE3 binds the promoters of many cellulase genes, the cellulose response transporter gene crt1, and transcription factor-encoding genes, including xyr1 We also observed that XYR1 dimerizes to facilitate cellulase production and that ACE3 interacts with XYR1. Together, these findings uncover how two essential transcriptional activators mediate cellulase gene expression in T. reesei On the basis of these observations, we propose a model of how the interactions between ACE3, Crt1, and XYR1 control cellulase expression and lactose metabolism in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
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Wu C, Chen Y, Huang X, Sun S, Luo J, Lu Z, Wang W, Ma Y. An efficient shortened genetic transformation strategy for filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. J GEN APPL MICROBIOL 2019; 65:301-307. [PMID: 31231078 DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is one of the most important fungi for the production of cellulases and xylanases, which can be used for biofuel production from lignocellulose. We aimed to develop an effective selection marker system for more extensive functional genomic studies in the fungus T. reesei, and to construct better industrial transformants for producing cellulases. Here, we present a novel effective G418 selection marker to use a codon-optimized neomycin phosphotransferase II gene nptII to transform T. reesei. We developed an effective and erasable selection marker, lcNG, and a combined genetic transformation system for gene manipulation in T. reesei using a two-Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. This transformation strategy combines two steps in the transformation protocol, which saves 15-30-day's time. The system could be a useful tool for the genetic engineering of T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Wu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Xiaoxue Huang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Shishuai Sun
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Jinnan Luo
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Zhiwen Lu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Yushu Ma
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology
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Liu P, Lin A, Zhang G, Zhang J, Chen Y, Shen T, Zhao J, Wei D, Wang W. Enhancement of cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 by comparative genomic screening. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:81. [PMID: 31077201 PMCID: PMC6509817 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1131-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellulolytic enzymes produced by the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei are commonly used in biomass conversion. The high cost of cellulase is still a significant challenge to commercial biofuel production. Improving cellulase production in T. reesei for application in the cellulosic biorefinery setting is an urgent priority. RESULTS Trichoderma reesei hyper-cellulolytic mutant SS-II derived from the T. reesei NG14 strain exhibited faster growth rate and more efficient lignocellulosic biomass degradation than those of RUT-C30, another hyper-cellulolytic strain derived from NG14. To identify any genetic changes that occurred in SS-II, we sequenced its genome using Illumina MiSeq. In total, 184 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 40 insertions and deletions were identified. SS-II sequencing revealed 107 novel mutations and a full-length wild-type carbon catabolite repressor 1 gene (cre1). To combine the mutations of RUT-C30 and SS-II, the sequence of one confirmed beneficial mutation in RUT-C30, cre196, was introduced in SS-II to replace full-length cre1, forming the mutant SS-II-cre196. The total cellulase production of SS-II-cre196 was decreased owing to the limited growth of SS-II-cre196. In contrast, 57 genes mutated only in SS-II were selected and knocked out in RUT-C30. Of these, 31 were involved in T. reesei growth or cellulase production. Cellulase activity was significantly increased in five deletion strains compared with that in two starter strains, RUT-C30 and SS-II. Cellulase production of T. reesei Δ108642 and Δ56839 was significantly increased by 83.7% and 70.1%, respectively, compared with that of RUT-C30. The amount of glucose released from pretreated corn stover hydrolyzed by the crude enzyme from Δ108642 increased by 11.9%. CONCLUSIONS The positive attribute confirmed in one cellulase hyper-producing strain does not always work efficiently in another cellulase hyper-producing strain, owing to the differences in genetic background. Genome re-sequencing revealed novel mutations that might affect cellulase production and other pathways indirectly related to cellulase formation. Our strategy of combining the mutations of two strains successfully identified a number of interesting phenotypes associated with cellulase production. These findings will contribute to the creation of a gene library that can be used to investigate the involvement of various genes in the regulation of cellulase production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Aibo Lin
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Guoxiu Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Tao Shen
- Sunson Industry Group Co, Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
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de Paula RG, Antoniêto ACC, Ribeiro LFC, Srivastava N, O'Donovan A, Mishra PK, Gupta VK, Silva RN. Engineered microbial host selection for value-added bioproducts from lignocellulose. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107347. [PMID: 30771467 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lignocellulose is a rich and sustainable globally available carbon source and is considered a prominent alternative raw material for producing biofuels and valuable chemical compounds. Enzymatic hydrolysis is one of the crucial steps of lignocellulose degradation. Cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzyme mixes produced by different microorganisms including filamentous fungi, yeasts and bacteria, are used to degrade the biomass to liberate monosaccharides and other compounds for fermentation or conversion to value-added products. During biomass pretreatment and degradation, toxic compounds are produced, and undesirable carbon catabolic repression (CCR) can occur. In order to solve this problem, microbial metabolic pathways and transcription factors involved have been investigated along with the application of protein engineering to optimize the biorefinery platform. Engineered Microorganisms have been used to produce specific enzymes to breakdown biomass polymers and metabolize sugars to produce ethanol as well other biochemical compounds. Protein engineering strategies have been used for modifying lignocellulolytic enzymes to overcome enzymatic limitations and improving both their production and functionality. Furthermore, promoters and transcription factors, which are key proteins in this process, are modified to promote microbial gene expression that allows a maximum performance of the hydrolytic enzymes for lignocellulosic degradation. The present review will present a critical discussion and highlight the aspects of the use of microorganisms to convert lignocellulose into value-added bioproduct as well combat the bottlenecks to make the biorefinery platform from lignocellulose attractive to the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Graciano de Paula
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Liliane Fraga Costa Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Neha Srivastava
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, IIT (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P, India
| | - Anthonia O'Donovan
- School of Science and Computing, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland
| | - P K Mishra
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, IIT (BHU), Varanasi 221005, U.P, India
| | - Vijai K Gupta
- ERA Chair of Green Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Roberto N Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Liu P, Zhang G, Chen Y, Zhao J, Wang W, Wei D. Enhanced cellulase production by decreasing intercellular pH through H +-ATPase gene deletion in Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:195. [PMID: 31417630 PMCID: PMC6691542 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1536-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellulolytic enzymes produced by Trichoderma reesei are widely used for the industrial production of biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulose. We speculated that intracellular pH during the fermentation process can affect cellulase induction. RESULTS In this study, two H+-ATPase genes, tre76238 and tre78757, were first identified in T. reesei. Deletion of tre76238 and tre78757 in T. reesei RUT-C30 confirmed that tre76238 has a major function in maintaining intracellular pH, whereas tre78757 has a minor function. The tre76238 deletion strain Δ76238 displayed a high level of cellulase production using cellulase-repressive glucose as a sole carbon source, along with intracellular acid accumulation and growth retardation. Our results indicated that intracellular acid accumulation in Δ76238 stimulated a significant increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Ca2+ channels were shown to be necessary for cellulase production using glucose as the carbon source in Δ76238. Delayed Δ76238 growth could be reversed by optimizing the medium's nitrogen sources to produce ammonia for intracellular acid neutralization in the early phase. This may be useful for scale-up of cellulase production using glucose as the carbon source. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a new perspective for significant alterations in the cellulase expression pattern of T. reesei Δ76238, indicating a new mechanism for cellulase regulation under conditions of low intracellular pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Guoxiu Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Jian Zhao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
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Zhang F, Bunterngsook B, Li JX, Zhao XQ, Champreda V, Liu CG, Bai FW. Regulation and production of lignocellulolytic enzymes from Trichoderma reesei for biofuels production. ADVANCES IN BIOENERGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aibe.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Fitz E, Wanka F, Seiboth B. The Promoter Toolbox for Recombinant Gene Expression in Trichoderma reesei. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:135. [PMID: 30364340 PMCID: PMC6193071 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ascomycete Trichoderma reesei is one of the main fungal producers of cellulases and xylanases based on its high production capacity. Its enzymes are applied in food, feed, and textile industry or in lignocellulose hydrolysis in biofuel and biorefinery industry. Over the last years, the demand to expand the molecular toolbox for T. reesei to facilitate genetic engineering and improve the production of heterologous proteins grew. An important instrument to modify the expression of key genes are promoters to initiate and control their transcription. To date, the most commonly used promoter for T. reesei is the strong inducible promoter of the main cellobiohydrolase cel7a. Beside this one, there is a number of alternative inducible promoters derived from other cellulase- and xylanase encoding genes and a few constitutive promoters. With the advances in genomics and transcriptomics the identification of new constitutive and tunable promoters with different expression strength was simplified. In this review, we will discuss new developments in the field of promoters and compare their advantages and disadvantages. Synthetic expression systems constitute a new option to control gene expression and build up complex gene circuits. Therefore, we will address common structural features of promoters and describe options for promoter engineering and synthetic design of promoters. The availability of well-characterized gene expression control tools is essential for the analysis of gene function, detection of bottlenecks in gene networks and yield increase for biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Fitz
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) GmbH, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franziska Wanka
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) GmbH, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Seiboth
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) GmbH, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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Zhang J, Wu C, Wang W, Wang W, Wei D. Construction of enhanced transcriptional activators for improving cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei RUT C30. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2018; 5:40. [PMID: 32288986 PMCID: PMC7101855 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-018-0226-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancing cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei is of great interest for an economical biorefinery. Artificial transcription factors are a potentially powerful molecular strategy for improving cellulase production in T. reesei. In this study, enhanced transcriptional activators XYR1VP, ACE2VP, and ACE1VP were constructed by linking the C terminus of XYR1, ACE2, or ACE1 with an activation domain of herpes simplex virus protein VP16. T. reesei transformants TXYR1VP, TACE2VP, and TACE1VP showed improved cellulase and/or xylanase production. TXYR1VP has a cellulase-free phenotype but with significantly elevated xylanase production. Xylanase I and xylanase II activities [U/(mg biomass)] increased by 51% and 80%, respectively, in TXYR1VP in comparison with parental strain RUT C30. The filter paper activity of TACE2VP in the Avicel-based medium increased by 52% compared to that of RUT C30. In the Avicel-based medium, TACE1VP manifested an 80% increase in FPase activity and a 50% increase in xylanase activity as compared to those of RUT C30. Additionally, when pretreated corn stover was hydrolyzed, crude enzymes produced from TACE1VP yielded a greater glucose release than did the enzymes produced by parental strain RUT C30.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhang
- 1New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Chuan Wu
- 1New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- 2State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- 1New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- 1New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237 China
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Zhang J, Wu C, Wang W, Wang W, Wei D. A versatile Trichoderma reesei expression system for the production of heterologous proteins. Biotechnol Lett 2018; 40:965-972. [PMID: 29644559 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-2548-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop a versatile Trichoderma reesei (teleomorph Hypocrea jecorina) expression system for the high-purity production of heterologous proteins. RESULTS The versatile T. reesei expression system is based on xyn1 and xyn2 promoters, A824V transition in XYRI, and a bicomponent carbon source strategy. Red fluorescent protein gene rfp and alkaline endoglucanase EGV gene egv3 from Humicola insolens were used as reporter genes to test our versatile expression system CONCLUSIONS: The versatile T. reesei expression system can be applied to produce heterologous proteins with high purity and high yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhang
- New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Chuan Wu
- New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- New World Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
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Zhang J, Zhang G, Wang W, Wang W, Wei D. Enhanced cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei RUT C30 via constitution of minimal transcriptional activators. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:75. [PMID: 29773074 PMCID: PMC5956553 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0926-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cellulase can convert lignocellulosic feedstocks into fermentable sugars, which can be used for the industrial production of biofuels and chemicals. The high cost of cellulase production remains a challenge for lignocellulose breakdown. Trichoderma reesei RUT C30 serves as a well-known industrial workhorse for cellulase production. Therefore, the enhancement of cellulase production by T. reesei RUT C30 is of great importance. Results Two sets of novel minimal transcriptional activators (DBDace2-VP16 and DBDcre1-VP16) were designed and expressed in T. reesei RUT C30. Expression of DBDace2-VP16 and DBDcre1-VP16 improved cellulase production under induction (avicel or lactose) and repression (glucose) conditions, respectively. The strain TMTA66 under avicel and TMTA139 under glucose with the highest cellulase activities outperformed other transformants and the parental strain under the corresponding conditions. For TMTA66 strains, the highest FPase activity was approximately 1.3-fold greater than that of the parental strain RUT C30 at 120 h of cultivation in a shake flask using avicel as the sole carbon source. The FPase activity (U/mg biomass) in TMTA139 strains was approximately 26.5-fold higher than that of the parental strain RUT C30 at 72 h of cultivation in a shake flask using glucose as the sole carbon source. Furthermore, the crude enzymes produced in the 7-L fermenter from TMTA66 and TMTA139 supplemented with commercial β-glucosidase hydrolyzed pretreated corn stover effectively. Conclusions These results show that replacing natural transcription factors with minimal transcriptional activators is a powerful strategy to enhance cellulase production in T. reesei. Our current study also offers an alternative genetic engineering strategy for the enhanced production of industrial products by other fungi. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-018-0926-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Guoxiu Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237, China
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29
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Chen Y, Shen Y, Wang W, Wei D. Mn 2+ modulates the expression of cellulase genes in Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 via calcium signaling. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:54. [PMID: 29507606 PMCID: PMC5831609 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1055-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 is one of the most vital fungi for the production of cellulases, which can be used for biofuel production from lignocellulose. Nevertheless, the mechanism of transmission of external stimuli and signals in modulating cellulase production in T. reesei Rut-C30 remains unclear. Calcium is a known second messenger regulating cellulase gene expression in T. reesei. RESULTS In this study, we found that a biologically relevant extracellular Mn2+ concentration markedly stimulates cellulase production, total protein secretion, and the intracellular Mn2+ concentration of Rut-C30, a cellulase hyper-producing strain of T. reesei. Furthermore, we identified two Mn2+ transport proteins, designated as TPHO84-1 and TPHO84-2, indicating that they are upstream in the signaling pathway that leads to cellulase upregulation. We also found that Mn2+ induced a significant increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, and that this increased cytosolic Ca2+ might be a key step in the Mn2+-mediated regulation of cellulase gene transcription and production. The utilization of LaCl3 to block plasma membrane Ca2+ channels, and deletion of crz1 (calcineurin-responsive zinc finger transcription factor 1) to interrupt calcium signaling, showed that Mn2+ exerts the induction of cellulase genes via calcium channels and calcium signaling. To substantiate this, we identified a Ca2+/Mn2+ P-type ATPase, TPMR1, which could play a pivotal role in Ca2+/Mn2+ homeostasis and Mn2+ induction of cellulase genes in T. reesei Rut-C30. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results revealed for the first time that Mn2+ stimulates cellulase production, and demonstrates that Mn2+ upregulates cellulase genes via calcium channels and calcium signaling. Our research also provides a direction to facilitate enhanced cellulase production by T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Yaling Shen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
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30
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Wang W, Chen Y, Wei DZ. Primers and copper responsive promoter design and data of real-time RT-PCR assay in filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. Data Brief 2017; 16:109-113. [PMID: 29188230 PMCID: PMC5694953 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This data article contains data related to the research article entitled “Copper-mediated on-off control of gene expression in filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei” (Wang et al., 2017) [1]. Four kinds of copper responsive promoters were designed. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to determine relative mRNA levels of red fluorescent protein gene (rfp) extracted from cells grown under different concentrations of CuSO4. Three deletion vectors were constructed by using a copper-mediated self-excision cassette instead of a xylose-mediated self-excision cassette (Zhang et al., 2016) [2] to knock out xyn1, one of the two major specific endo-β-1,4-xylanases (Rauscher et al., 2006) [3], xyr1, the key transcriptional activator of cellulolytic and xylanolytic genes (Lichius et al., 2015) [4], and ace3, a factor essential for cellulase production (Häkkinen et al., 2014) [5]. This data article reports the primers, vector construction, and qPCR assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong-Zhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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31
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Liu P, Wang W, Wei D. Use of transcription activator-like effector for efficient gene modification and transcription in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 44:1367-1373. [PMID: 28674932 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-017-1963-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi have wide applications in the field of biotechnology. The use of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) is a powerful genome-engineering tool, which can facilitate genome editing and transcriptional modulation, and has been used for genetic modification in a variety of organisms. However, a transcription activator-like effectors nuclease (TALEN) approach has not been used in filamentous fungi so far. Here, we aimed to establish the shortest TALEN and TALE-transcription factor (TALE-TF) proteins for use in gene modification and transcription in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. The alternative tandem repeat unit of the TALEs was first established by the ligation of two isocaudamers: XbaI and SpeI, instead of the natural unit. In addition, we adopted T. reesei expression assays to monitor the activities of the TALENs and TALE-TF in vivo in T. reesei. Our results showed that TALEs are a powerful genome-manipulating tool for use in T. reesei and other filamentous fungal species and that their use might facilitate studies on functional genomics and strain improvement in these filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O.B. 311, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
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32
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Abstract
As eukaryotes, filamentous fungi share many features with humans, and they produce numerous active metabolites, some of which are toxic. Traditional genetic approaches are generally inefficient, but the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system that has been widely used for basic research on bacteria, mammals and plants offers a simple, fast, versatile technology for systemic research on filamentous fungi. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on Cas9 and its variants, various selective markers used to screen positive clones, different ways used to detect off-target mutations, and different approaches used to express and transform the CRISPR complex. We also highlight several methods that improve the nuclease specificity and efficiency, and discuss current and potential applications of CRISPR/Cas9 system in filamentous fungi for pathogenesis decoding, confirmation of the gene and pathway, bioenergy process, drug discovery, and chromatin dynamics. We also describe how the synthetic gene circuit of CRISPR/Cas9 systems has been used in the response to various complex environmental signals to redirect metabolite flux and ensure continuous metabolite biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiang Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruijie Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangru Liao
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yujie Cai
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang G, Liu P, Wei W, Wang X, Wei D, Wang W. A light-switchable bidirectional expression system in filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. J Biotechnol 2016; 240:85-93. [PMID: 27816655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The filamentous fungi Trichoderma reesei is widely used in the production of cellulolytic enzymes and recombinant proteins. However, only moderate success has been achieved in expressing heterologous proteins in T. reesei. Light-dependent control of DNA transcription, and protein expression have been demonstrated in bacteria, fungi, and mammalian cells. In this study, light inducible transactivators, a "light-on" bidirectional promoter and a "light-off" promoter were constructed successfully in T. reesei for the first time. Our light inducible transactivators can homodimerize and bind to the upstream region of artificial promoters to activate or repress genes transcription. Additionally, we upgraded the light-inducible system to on-off system that can simultaneously control the expression of multiple heterologous proteins in T. reesei. Moreover, a native cellulase-free background for the expression of heterologous proteins was achieved by knocking out the genes involved in transcriptional regulation and encoding of cellulases: xyr1, cbh1, and cbh2. Our light-switchable system showed a very little background protein expression and robust activation in the blue light with significantly improved heterologous protein expression. We demonstrate that our light-switchable system has a potential application as an on/off "switch" that can simultaneously regulate the expression of multiple genes in T. reesei under native cellulase-free background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiu Zhang
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Pei Liu
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xuedong Wang
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
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