Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the thermophilic lignocellulose-degrading fungus Thielavia terrestris LPH172
Journal article, 2021

Background: Biomass-degrading enzymes with improved activity and stability can increase substrate saccharification and make biorefineries economically feasible. Filamentous fungi are a rich source of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) for biomass degradation. The newly isolated LPH172 strain of the thermophilic Ascomycete Thielavia terrestris has been shown to possess high xylanase and cellulase activities and tolerate low pH and high temperatures. Here, we aimed to illuminate the lignocellulose-degrading machinery and novel carbohydrate-active enzymes in LPH172 in detail. Results: We sequenced and analyzed the 36.6-Mb genome and transcriptome of LPH172 during growth on glucose, cellulose, rice straw, and beechwood xylan. 10,128 predicted genes were found in total, which included 411 CAZy domains. Compared to other fungi, auxiliary activity (AA) domains were particularly enriched. A higher GC content was found in coding sequences compared to the overall genome, as well as a high GC3 content, which is hypothesized to contribute to thermophilicity. Primarily auxiliary activity (AA) family 9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) and glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 7 glucanase encoding genes were upregulated when LPH172 was cultivated on cellulosic substrates. Conventional hemicellulose encoding genes (GH10, GH11 and various CEs), as well as AA9 LPMOs, were upregulated when LPH172 was cultivated on xylan. The observed co-expression and co-upregulation of genes encoding AA9 LPMOs, other AA CAZymes, and (hemi)cellulases point to a complex and nuanced degradation strategy. Conclusions: Our analysis of the genome and transcriptome of T. terrestris LPH172 elucidates the enzyme arsenal that the fungus uses to degrade lignocellulosic substrates. The study provides the basis for future characterization of potential new enzymes for industrial biomass saccharification.

Thermostable enzymes

Carbohydrate active enzymes

LPMO

Xylan

Cellulose

Transcriptome

Biomass degradation

Filamentous fungi

Author

Monika Tõlgo

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Silvia Hüttner

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Peter Rugbjerg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

N. T. Thuy

Food Industries Research Institute

V. N. Thanh

Food Industries Research Institute

Johan Larsbrink

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Lisbeth Olsson

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Biotechnology for Biofuels

17546834 (ISSN) 1754-6834 (eISSN)

Vol. 14 1 131

Enzymes discovery and production in Vietnam for the production of sustainable biofuels and biochemicals

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2014-3523), 2014-12-01 -- 2016-12-31.

Subject Categories

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Microbiology

Biocatalysis and Enzyme Technology

DOI

10.1186/s13068-021-01975-1

PubMed

34082802

More information

Latest update

6/15/2021