Localization of beta-(1,3)-glucanase in the mycelium of Sclerotium rolfsii

Superoxide radical is involved in the sclerotial differentiation of filamentous phytopathogenic fungi: identification of a fungal xanthine oxidase

This study shows that the direct indicator of oxidative stress superoxide radical (O·₂⁻) is involved in the sclerotial differentiation of the phytopathogenic filamentous fungi Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Sclerotinia minor. The production rate of O·₂⁻ and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the sclerotiogenic fungi were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than those of their non-differentiating counterpart strains, which strongly suggests that the oxidative stress of the sclerotium differentiating fungi is higher than that of the non-differentiating ones. Xanthine oxidase (XO), which was detected for the first time in fungi in general, was localized in the cytoplasmic membrane. The contribution of XO in the overall O·₂⁻production was very significant, reaching 30-70% among the strains, especially in the transition developmental stage between the undifferentiated and the differentiated state, suggesting a sclerotium triggering and a phytopathogenic role of XO during plant infection. The additional finding that these fungi secrete extracellular SOD can be related to their protection from the response of plants to produce O·₂⁻ at infection sites.

Biochemistry and molecular biology of exocellular fungal beta-(1,3)- and beta-(1,6)-glucanases

Many fungi produce exocellular beta-glucan-degrading enzymes, the beta-glucanases including the noncellulolytic beta-(1,3)- and beta-(1,6)-glucanases, degrading beta-(1,3)- and beta-(1,6)-glucans. An ability to purify several exocellular beta-glucanases attacking the same linkage type from a single fungus is common, although unlike the beta-1,3-glucanases, production of multiple beta-1,6-glucanases is quite rare in fungi. Reasons for this multiplicity remain unclear and the multiple forms may not be genetically different but arise by posttranslational glycosylation or proteolytic degradation of the single enzyme. How their synthesis is regulated, and whether each form is regulated differentially also needs clarifying. Their industrial potential will only be realized when the genes encoding them are cloned and expressed in large quantities. This review considers what is known in molecular terms about their multiplicity of occurrence, regulation of synthesis and phylogenetic diversity. It discusses how this information assists in understanding their functions in the fungi producing them. It deals largely with exocellular beta-glucanases which here refers to those recoverable after the cells are removed, since those associated with fungal cell walls have been reviewed recently by Adams (2004). It also updates the earlier review by Pitson et al. (1993).

Production of ?-glucan and related glucan-hydrolases by Botryosphaeria rhodina

AIMS

Characterization of beta-glucan production from Botryosphaeria rhodina DABAC-P82 by detecting simultaneously glucan-hydrolytic enzymes and their localization, culture medium rheology and oxygen transfer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mycelium growth, beta-glucan production, substrate consumption and glucan-hydrolytic enzymes were monitored both in shaken flasks and in a 3-l stirred-tank bioreactor. Glucan production (19.7 and 15.2 g l(-1), in flask and bioreactor, respectively) was accompanied by extra-cellular and cell-bound beta-glucanase and beta-glucosidase activities. In the bioreactor scale, in the time interval of 0-78 h the apparent viscosity of the culture broth exhibited a general increase; thereafter, it began to reduce, probably because of the above glucan-hydrolytic activities. Moreover, the culture media collected after 45 h behaved as solid-like materials at shear rates smaller than 0.001 s(-1), as pseudo-plastic liquids in the middle shear rate range and as Newtonian ones at shear rates greater than 1000 s(-1).

CONCLUSION

The greatest beta-glucan accumulation in the bioreactor was found to be associated with nitrogen and dissolved oxygen concentrations smaller than 0.15 g l(-1) and 25%, respectively, and with the peak points of the glucan-degrading enzymes.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A careful analysis of the critical factors (such as, culture broth rheology, oxygen mass transfer and glucan-hydrolytic enzymes) limiting the beta-glucan production by B. rhodina is a prerequisite to maximize beta-glucan yield and production, as well as to define the process flow sheet capable of maximizing biopolymer recovery, solvent re-utilization and glucose consumption.

Identification and complementation of abnormal hyphal branch mutants ahbA1 and ahbB1 in Aspergillus nidulans

Branching generates new axes of polar growth in filamentous fungi and is critical for development, reproduction, and pathogenicity. To investigate branching we screened an Aspergillus nidulans temperature-sensitive mutant collection for abnormal hyphal branch (ahb) mutants. We identified two mutants, ahbA1, which showed reduced branching relative to wild type at restrictive temperature, and ahbB1, which showed increased branching relative to wild type at restrictive temperature. Both mutants also showed abnormal conidiophore development at restrictive temperature. The ahbA1 hypobranching mutant showed defects in nuclear division and hydroxyurea resistance. Complementation and sequencing showed that ahbA1 is a previously identified allele of the cell cycle regulator nimX. The ahbB1 hyperbranching mutant had an increased number of nuclei, was osmotically remedial and Calcofluor resistant. The ahbB gene is predicted to encode a novel protein that has homologues exclusively in filamentous fungi. The C-terminal domain of the predicted AhbB protein showed homology with the heme-binding domain of a cytochrome P450 protein and sequencing of the ahbB1 mutant allele showed that the lesion lies just before this putative heme-binding domain. The ahbB1 mutant showed increased sensitivity to the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor imidazole. Our results suggest a link between nuclear division and branching and a possible role for membrane synthesis in branching.

Noncellulolytic fungal beta-glucanases: their physiology and regulation

The occurrence, regulation, and action of fungal enzymes capable of degrading noncellulosic beta-glucans, especially 1,3-beta- and 1,6-beta-glucans, are reviewed. Special consideration is given to their roles in both metabolic and morphogenetic events in the fungal cell, including cell wall extension, hyphal branching, sporulation, budding, and autolysis. Also examined are the protocols currently available for their purification, with some of the properties of purified beta-glucanases discussed in terms of their potential applications in industrial, agricultural, and medical fields.

Models of cell differentiation in conidial fungi

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Isolation, properties, function, and regulation of endo-(1 leads to 3)-beta-glucanases in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Cell-free extracts, membranous fractions, and cell wall preparations from Schizosaccharomyces pombe were examined for the presence of (1 --> 3)-beta-, (1 --> 3)-alpha-, and (1 --> 6)-beta-glucanase activities. The various glucanases were assayed in cells at different growth stages. Only (1 --> 3)-beta-glucanase activity was found, and this was associated with the cell wall fraction. Chromatographic fractionation of the crude enzyme revealed two endo-(1 --> 3)-beta-glucanases, designated as glucanase I and glucanase II. Glucanase I consisted of two subunits of molecular weights 78,500 and 82,000, and glucanase II was a single polypeptide of 75,000. Although both enzymes had similar substrate specificities and similar hydrolytic action on laminarin, glucanase II had much higher hydrolytic activity on isolated cell walls of S. pombe. On the basis of differential lytic activity on cell walls, glucanase II was shown to be present in conjugating cells and highest in sporulating cells. Glucanase II appeared to be specifically involved in conjugation and sporulation since vegetative cells and nonconjugating and nonsporulating cells did not contain this enzyme. The appearance of glucanase II in conjugating cells may be due to de novo enzyme synthesis since no activation could be demonstrated by combining extracts from vegetative and conjugating cells. Increased glucanase activity occurred when walls from conjugating cells were combined with walls from sporulating cells. Studies with trypsin and proteolytic inhibitors suggest that glucanase II exists as a zymogen in conjugating cells. A temperature-sensitive mutant of S. pombe was isolated which lysed at 37 degrees C. Glucanase activity was higher in vegetative cells held at 37 degrees C than cells held at 25 degrees C. Unlike the wild-type strain, this mutant contained glucanase II activity during vegetative growth and may be a regulatory mutant.