Cellular signaling via protein kinase C (PKC 1) in Trichoderma reesei during cellulase formation

• Grant number: 22/00068-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Roberto do Nascimento Silva
• Grantee: Wellington Ramos Pedersoli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11655-4 - Functional studies of gene regulatory networks in Trichoderma reesei during the cellulases formation, AP.TEM

Abstract

Plant biomass is the most abundant natural material present on Earth. It is composed of polysaccharides, with cellulose as the main component. Several microorganisms being studied with potential biotechnological use to degrade plant matter. The fungus Trichoderma reesei is known for its high capacity to secrete cellulolytic enzymes that act by degrading the cellulose polymer into glucose molecules, which is a key point in the production of second-generation ethanol. The regulation of the expression of genes that encode for these enzymes is orchestrated by phosphorylation events, through kinases and phosphatases. Phosphorylation events are known to be involved in the configuration of other processes. In T. reesei, the protein phosphorylation pattern changes depending on the carbon source. This project aims to contribute to the understanding of regulatory mechanisms in the process of cellulase production during the degradation of plant biomass by T. reesei through the deletion of the pkc1 gene, one of the main kinases, previously identified by our group. Subsequently, a phosphoproteomic analysis will be performed to identify the proteins affected by these kinases, which are differentially expressed by induction of carbon sources cellulose and sugarcane bagasse. The information generated in this work, in addition to contributing to the understanding of the catabolic repression mechanism, selected to be used for the engineering of the T. reesei fungus in order to increase the production of these enzymes. In addition, they will serve as a source of information for further research, such as studies of individual PKC1 targets (identify in this work) and their specific effects on the cell. (AU)