Characterization of novel transcription factors of Trichoderma reesei involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass

• Grant number: 14/11766-7
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Velasco de Castro Oliveira
• Grantee: Juliana Velasco de Castro Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Trichoderma is formed by free-living filamentous fungi, found in several different environments and in various weather conditions. Among hundreds of others genera, Trichoderma stands out as being one of the greatest relevance to humanity. Some species are widely used in industry, and among them T. reesei is noticeable as one of the main producer of hydrolytic enzymes. These enzymes are able to digest polysaccharides found in the cell wall of lignocellulosic materials and convert them into monosaccharides. Thus, these simple sugars can be used to produce what we call as second generation ethanol. The use of this fuel is a great alternative to the use of petroleum-based fuel, since they are produced from an inexhaustible source of energy, with low environmental impact. However, for the bioethanol production to be economically viable, it is necessary to reduce its production costs, mainly the costs associated with hydrolytic enzymes. Despite years of research and development with T. reesei and other fungi used industrially to produce hydrolases, the molecular mechanisms involved in the production of enzymes are not well known. In this sense, it is of huge importance to evaluate which transcription factors are involved in the biomass degradation process, since they are the major regulators of gene expression network of an organism / cell, having a fundamental role in almost all biological processes. Thus, the present project aims to develop a platform to measure the expression of all transcription factors of T. reesei. Besides contributing to the basic understanding of the process of degradation of the sugarcane biomass, this work can reflect on new perspectives for the development of enzyme cocktails, identifying new genes with biotechnological applications. Using this platform, we hope to identify new transcription factors related to the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass, enabling the genetic manipulation of T. reesei RUT - C30, in order to generate a strain with higher cellulo- and hemicellulolytic potential. It is worth remembering this strain stands out in enzymes production, probably because it has a truncation in the transcription factor that represses the synthesis of them, which demonstrates the potential of this work. Additionally, make available to the scientific community a biotechnological platform like we are proposing can have a significant impact on several areas of research related to this fungus, such as in its use as a biological control agent of several pests of agricultural crops. (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)

DE VRIES, RONALD P.; RILEY, ROBERT; WIEBENGA, AD; AGUILAR-OSORIO, GUILLERMO; AMILLIS, SOTIRIS; UCHIMA, CRISTIANE AKEMI; ANDERLUH, GREGOR; ASADOLLAHI, MOJTABA; ASKIN, MARION; BARRY, KERRIE; et al. Comparative genomics reveals high biological diversity and specific adaptations in the industrially and medically important fungal genus Aspergillus. Genome Biology, v. 18, FEB 14 2017. (14/06923-6, 12/20549-4, 12/19040-0, 11/08945-9, 14/10351-8, 14/11766-7)

BONIN, GUSTAVO PAGOTTO; CARAZZOLLE, MARCELO FALSARELLA; CORREA DOS SANTOS, RENATO AUGUSTO; RIANO-PACHON, DIEGO MAURICIO; DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA, JULIANA VELASCO. Gene Co-expression Network Reveals Potential New Genes Related to Sugarcane Bagasse Degradation in Trichoderma reesei RUT-30. FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 6, OCT 22 2018. (14/11766-7, 17/18987-7, 15/08222-8, 14/15799-7)

DE VRIES, RONALD P.; RILEY, ROBERT; WIEBENGA, AD; AGUILAR-OSORIO, GUILLERMO; AMILLIS, SOTIRIS; UCHIMA, CRISTIANE AKEMI; ANDERLUH, GREGOR; ASADOLLAHI, MOJTABA; ASKIN, MARION; BARRY, KERRIE; et al. Comparative genomics reveals high biological diversity and specific adaptations in the industrially and medically important fungal genus Aspergillus. GENOME BIOLOGY, v. 18, p. 45-pg., 2017-02-14. (11/08945-9, 14/06923-6, 12/19040-0, 14/10351-8, 14/11766-7, 12/20549-4)

COUTOUNE, NATALIA; NOGUEIRA MULATO, ALINE TIEPPO; RIANO-PACHON, DIEGO MAURICIO; DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA, JULIANA VELASCO. Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Barra Grande (BG-1), a Brazilian Industrial Bioethanol-Producing Strain. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 5, n. 13, MAR 2017. (14/11766-7)

KAUPERT NETO, ANTONIO ADALBERTO; BORIN, GUSTAVO PAGOTTO; GOLDMAN, GUSTAVO HENRIQUE; DE LIMA DAMASIO, ANDRE RICARDO; DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA, JULIANA VELASCO. Insights into the plant polysaccharide degradation potential of the xylanolytic yeast Pseudozyma brasiliensis. FEMS Yeast Research, v. 16, n. 2, MAR 2016. (13/18910-3, 14/11766-7, 15/08222-8)

BORIN, GUSTAVO PAGOTTO; SANCHEZ, CAMILA CRISTINA; DE SANTANA, ELIANE SILVA; ZANINI, GUILHERME KEPPE; CORREA DOS SANTOS, RENATO AUGUSTO; PONTES, ANGELICA DE OLIVEIRA; DE SOUZA, ALINE TIEPPO; TAVARES SOARES DAL'MAS, ROBERTA MARIA MENEGALDO; RIANO-PACHON, DIEGO MAURICIO; GOLDMAN, GUSTAVO HENRIQUE; et al. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals different strategies for degradation of steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse by Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei. BMC Genomics, v. 18, JUN 30 2017. (11/08945-9, 15/08222-8, 14/15799-7, 13/09541-4, 14/11733-1, 14/11766-7)

COUTOUNE, NATALIA; NOGUEIRA MULATO, ALINE TIEPPO; RIANO-PACHON, DIEGO MAURICIO; DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA, JULIANA VELASCO. Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Barra Grande (BG-1), a Brazilian Industrial Bioethanol-Producing Strain. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 5, n. 13, p. 2-pg., 2017-03-01. (14/11766-7)