Phenotype characterization of Neurospora crassa deletion strains grown on avicel and sugarcane bagasse

• Grant number: 14/10351-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Márcio Squina
• Grantee: Cristiane Akemi Uchima
• Supervisor: N. Louise Glass
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Energy Biosciences Institute, Berkeley (EBI), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/19040-0 - Characterization of gene expression of Neurospora crassa in response to deconstruction of sugar cane bagasse, BP.PD

Abstract

The bioethanol production appears as an attractive option to reduce the use of non renewable petroleum-based sources. The increase in Brazilian bioethanol production can be provided from sugarcane bagasse, an agricultural residue that is sustainable and suitable to be converted into biofuels. The plant biomass recalcitrance can be circumvented with physical or chemical pretreatments, together with the use of enzyme mixtures. In nature, the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa can efficiently degrade plant biomass through secretion of a variety of lignocellulolytic enzymes. With these issues in mind, the main objective of this post-doctorate research project is to characterize and to compare the secretome and the gene expression of N. crassa in response to cellulose (Avicel) and sugarcane bagasse, as an attempt to comprehend the molecular mechanisms utilized by this fungus for the degradation of plant cell wall. So far, the secretome of this fungus grown on Avicel, integral sugarcane bagasse, phosphoric acid pretreated sugarcane bagasse, lignin and sucrose were comprehensive analyzed by biochemical assays and UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS. Moreover, transcriptome analysis using Next Generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology after grown under identical conditions was also performed. The objective of this post-doctorate internship (BEPE-PD) at Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) in California, USA, is to analyze the phenotype of strains containing deletion in genes encoding proteins of known or unknown functions, identified in our proteomic and transcriptomic analyses , which in turn will facilitate the assessment of their roles in plant biomass deconstruction. Understanding how this model organism responds to lignocellulose substrates may contribute substantially for the development of cheaper enzyme cocktails or hyper secretion strain for lignocellulolytic enzymes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

FRANCO CAIRO, JOAO P. L.; CARAZZOLLE, MARCELO F.; LEONARDO, FLAVIA C.; MOFATTO, LUCIANA S.; BRENELLI, LIVIA B.; GONCALVES, THIAGO A.; UCHIMA, CRISTIANE A.; DOMINGUES, ROMANIA R.; ALVAREZ, THABATA M.; TRAMONTINA, ROBSON; et al. Expanding the Knowledge on Lignocellulolytic and Redox Enzymes of Worker and Soldier Castes from the Lower Termite Coptotermes gestroi. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 7, OCT 13 2016. (15/06971-3, 14/20576-7, 14/50371-8, 12/19040-0, 14/10351-8, 11/20977-3, 13/03061-0, 10/11469-1, 08/58037-9)

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)