Genomic studies of global gene expression of filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei grown in bagasse and culm of sugarcane

Author(s)

Gustavo Pagotto Borin

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2015-06-03

Examining board members

Gustavo Henrique Goldman; André Ricardo de Lima Damásio; Fernando Segato

• Advisor: Gustavo Henrique Goldman; Juliana Velasco de Castro Oliveira

Abstract

Plant cell wall is a recalcitrant structure composed of complex polysaccharides which can be broken down into fermentable sugars. The deconstruction of this complex material can be made by a variety of hydrolytic enzymes which are naturally produced by a variety of microorganisms. Among them, stands out the fungus Trichoderma reesei, able to produce and secrete those enzymes in large quantities. Although some studies using transcriptomics and proteomics approaches have been performed with this fungus, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the degradation of the cell wall and gene regulation involved in this lignocellulosic system are not well known. This work has as main objective the analysis of global gene expression of T. reesei grown at 6, 12 and 24 hours in sugarcane bagasse and culm as sole carbon sources by high-throughput RNA sequencing technology (RNA-Seq). In the T. reesei transcriptome, it was identified the major cellulases, hemicellulases and accessory proteins directly or indirectly related to the deconstruction of plant cell wall. In general, cellulases and hemicellulases exhibited higher expression than other enzymes, and the level of their transcripts was increased over the time in both culm and bagasse cultures. Most of up-regulated CAZymes and accessory proteins were shared between the two substrates, which demonstrates the strategy used by T. reesei to degrade the bagasse and culm cell wall is similar. Furthermore, several transcription factors, proteins of unknown function and transporters supposedly involved in the assimilation of sugars were also up-regulated in the sampled conditions. To validate the RNA-Seq data, real-time PCR of several up-regulated genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes, transcriptional regulators, accessory proteins and proteins not yet characterized was carried out. The time points was extended to 30 min, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours of growth after inoculation, allowing a more detailed analysis of the expression of these genes. As a secondary objective, T. reesei secretome and the sugars released in the supernatant were analyzed. It was shown that the sugarcane cell wall deconstruction begins within the first 6 hours post inoculation, releasing sugar monomers (mainly xylose and glucose) from polysaccharides due to the secretion of several hydrolytic enzymes. Enzymatic assays were also performed, showing cellulosic and hemicellulosic activities. Finally, this is the first study showing the arsenal of enzymes transcribed and secreted by T. reesei grown on steam exploded sugarcane bagasse and culm, at early time points. It was possible identify several genes, with predicted function or not, that can open new paths to discover novel players on the fungus response to lignocellulosic substrate (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/01071-9 - Genomic studies of global genetic expression of filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei grown in bagasse and culm of sugarcane
• Grantee: Gustavo Pagotto Borin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master