Functional studies of gene regulatory networks in Trichoderma reesei during the cellulases formation

• Grant number: 19/11655-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2020
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Roberto do Nascimento Silva
• Grantee: Roberto do Nascimento Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Gustavo Henrique Goldman ; Rafael Silva Rocha
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/14399-1 - Functional characterization and overexpression of potential cellobiose and xylose transporters in Trichoderma reesei during cellulase production, BP.DR; 23/03730-1 - Characterization of novel transcription factors from Trichoderma reesei involved in the regulation of cellulase gene expression, BP.PD; 22/01751-9 - Engineering of Trichoderma reesei xylose transporters to improve the Saccharomyces cerevisiae sugar transport system, BP.DR; + associated scholarships 22/00068-3 - Cellular signaling via protein kinase C (PKC 1) in Trichoderma reesei during cellulase formation, BP.PD; 21/01580-7 - Characterization and engineering of new transcription factors involved in the stress response during cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei, BP.DR; 20/08381-7 - Nutrient sensing studies via cell receptors with CFEM domain in Trichoderma reesei, BP.DR - associated scholarships

Abstract

The fungus Trichoderma reesei is recognized as an industrial producer of cellulases. These enzymes move a market that grows every year and in the order of millions of dollars. The major cellulase genes are regulated in a coordinated manner according to available carbon source. Expression of these genes can be induced by cellulose and other substances (eg, cellobiose, sophorose and lactose), while glucose acts as a source of repressive carbon. The industrial potential of cellulases led to an investigation of the biochemical properties, three-dimensional structure and mechanism of action of a number of these proteins. Nevertheless, the nature of the inducer, the sensing and transport signaling pathways are elucidated. Therefore, this project proposes the systematic functional study of gene regulation networks of this fungus during the production of cellulases. Efforts will be focused on the elucidation of nutrient sensing by GPCrs, PTH11 and CFEM domain proteins; identification of new sugar transporters by membrane proteomics; identification of new transcription factors involved in the regulation of cellulase expression; functional genomics by CRISPR-Cas9 of differentially expressed candidate genes in the conditions of cellulase production and repression; evaluation of phosphorylation targets by PKA, TMK1 and TMK2 by phosphoproteome studies and finally; the integration of this information to understand the systemic biology of the fungus during the production of cellulases. With the results generated in this project, we intend to contribute to a better understanding of the biology of this important industrial fungus, with a view to the production of metabolic mutants in order to increase the production of cellulases and to reduce production costs that still affect a large part of the obtained biotechnological products from T. reesei. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TAVEIRA, IASMIN CARTAXO; CARRARO, CLAUDIA BATISTA; NOGUEIRA, KAROLINE MARIA VIEIRA; PEREIRA, LUCAS MATHEUS SOARES; BUENO, JOAO GABRIEL RIBEIRO; FIAMENGHI, MATEUS BERNABE; DOS SANTOS, LEANDRO VIEIRA; SILVA, ROBERTO N.. Structural and biochemical insights of xylose MFS and SWEET transporters in microbial cell factories: challenges to lignocellulosic hydrolysates fermentation. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 15, p. 24-pg., 2024-09-27. (19/11655-4, 22/01751-9)

PEREIRA, LUCAS MATHEUS SOARES; TAVEIRA, IASMIN CARTAXO; MAUES, DAVID BATISTA; DE PAULA, RENATO GRACIANO; SILVA, ROBERTO N.. Advances in fungal sugar transporters: unlocking the potential of second-generation bioethanol production. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, v. 109, n. 1, p. 21-pg., 2025-01-01. (22/01751-9, 19/11655-4, 22/14399-1)

SILVA, ALINNE COSTA; OSHIQUIRI, LETICIA HARUMI; DE JESUS, LUIZ FELIPE DE MORAIS COSTA; MAUES, DAVID BATISTA; SILVA, ROBERTO DO NASCIMENTO. The Cerato-Platanin EPL2 from Trichoderma reesei Is Not Directly Involved in Cellulase Formation but in Cell Wall Remodeling. MICROORGANISMS, v. 11, n. 8, p. 16-pg., 2023-08-01. (19/11655-4)

CAMPOS ANTONIETO, AMANDA CRISTINA; MAUES, DAVID BATISTA; VIEIRA NOGUEIRA, KAROLINE MARIA; DE PAULA, RENATO GRACIANO; STEINDORFF, ANDREI STECCA; KENNEDY, JOHN F.; PANDEY, ASHOK; GUPTA, VIJAI KUMAR; SILVA, ROBERTO N.. Engineering of holocellulase in biomass-degrading fungi for sustainable biofuel production. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, v. 371, p. 13-pg., 2022-10-15. (18/03766-8, 19/11655-4)

AMARAL, MARCUS V. M. V.; CARRARO, CLAUDIA B.; ANTONIETO, AMANDA C. C.; COSTA, MARIANA N.; FRAGA-SILVA, THAIS F. C.; CIPRIANO, UALTER G.; ABUNA, RODRIGO P. F.; RODRIGUES, TAMARA S.; MARTINS, RONALDO B.; LUZENTI, ANDREIA M.; et al. Biogenic silver nanoparticles produced by Trichoderma reesei inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, reduce lung viral load and ameliorate acute pulmonary inflammation. CURRENT RESEARCH IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 9, p. 11-pg., 2025-01-01. (19/11655-4)

CAMPOS ANTONIETO, AMANDA CRISTINA; VIEIRA NOGUEIRA, KAROLINE MARIA; MENDES, VANESSA; MAUES, DAVID BATISTA; OSHIQUIRI, LETICIA HARUMI; ZENAIDE-NETO, HERMANO; DE PAULA, RENATO GRACIANO; GAFFEY, JAMES; TABATABAEI, MEISAM; GUPTA, VIJAI KUMAR; et al. Use of carbohydrate-directed enzymes for the potential exploitation of sugarcane bagasse to obtain value-added biotechnological products. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 221, p. 16-pg., 2022-09-12. (21/01580-7, 19/19569-0, 19/11655-4)

OSHIQUIRI, LETICIA HARUMI; PEREIRA, LUCAS MATHEUS SOARES; MAUES, DAVID BATISTA; MILANI, ELIZABETE ROSA; SILVA, ALINNE COSTA; JESUS, LUIZ FELIPE DE MORAIS COSTA DE; SILVA-NETO, JULIO ALVES; VERAS, FLAVIO PROTASIO; DE PAULA, RENATO GRACIANO; SILVA, ROBERTO NASCIMENTO. Regulatory Role of Vacuolar Calcium Transport Proteins in Growth, Calcium Signaling, and Cellulase Production in Trichoderma reesei. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 10, n. 12, p. 25-pg., 2024-12-01. (19/19569-0, 19/11655-4, 16/23233-9)