A circadian clock in Neurospora crassa functions during plant cell wall deconstruction

Author(s)

Diaz, Rodrigo D. ^[1] ; Larrondo, Luis F. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Pontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Fac Ciencias Biol, Millennium Inst Integrat Biol, Dept Genet Mol & Microbiol, Casilla 114-D, Santiago - Chile

^[2] Larrondo, Luis F., Pontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Fac Ciencias Biol, Millennium Inst Integrat Biol, Dept Genet Mol \& Microbiol, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.Diaz, Rodrigo D., Pontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Fac Ciencias Biol, Millennium Inst Integrat Biol, Dept Genet Mol & Microbiol, Casilla 114-D, Santiago - Chile

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FUNGAL BIOLOGY; v. 124, n. 5, p. 501-508, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Circadian clocks are autonomous timers that are believed to confer organisms a selective advantage by enabling processes to occur at appropriate times of the day. In the model fungus Neurospora crassa, 20-40 % of its genes are reported to be under circadian regulation, as assayed in simple sugar media. Although it has been well-described that Neurospora efficiently deconstructs plant cell wall components, little is known regarding the status of the clock when Neurospora grows on cellulosic material, or whether such a clock has an impact on any of the genes involved in this process. Through luciferase-based reporters and fluorescent detection assays, we show that a clock is functioning when Neurospora grows on cellulose-containing wheat straw as the only carbon and nitrogen source. Additionally, we found that the major cellobiohydrolase encoding gene involved in plant cell wall deconstruction, cbh-1, is rhythmically regulated by the Neurospora clock, in a manner that depends on cellulose concentration and on the transcription factor CRE-1, known as a key player in carbon-catabolite repression in this fungus. Our findings are a step towards a more comprehensive understanding on how clock regulation modulates cellulose degradation, and thus Neurospora's physiology. (C) 2020 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20571-6 - International Symposium on Fungal Stress - ISFUS
• Grantee: Drauzio Eduardo Naretto Rangel
• Support Opportunities: Organization Grants - Scientific Meeting