Antagonism of Pythium blight of zucchini by Hypocrea jecorina does not require cellulase gene expression but is improved by carbon catabolite derepression

Toward a better understanding of the biochemical events that lead to biocontrol of plant pathogenic fungi by Hypocrea/Trichoderma spp., we investigated the importance of carbon catabolite (de)repression and cellulase formation in the antagonization of Pythium ultimum by Hypocrea jecorina (Trichoderma reesei) on agar plates and in planta. Hypocrea jecorina QM9414 could antagonize and overgrow P. ultimum but not Rhizoctonia solani in plate confrontation tests, and provided significant protection of zucchini plants against P. ultimum blight in planta. A carbon catabolite derepressed cre1 mutant of H. jecorina antagonized P. ultimum on plates more actively and increased the survival rates of P. ultimum-inoculated zucchini plants in comparison with strain QM9414. A H. jecorina mutant impaired in cellulase induction could also antagonize P. ultimum on plates and provided the same level of protection of zucchini plants against P. ultimum as strain QM9414 did. We conclude that cellulase formation is dispensable for biocontrol of P. ultimum, whereas carbon catabolite derepression increases the antagonistic ability by apparently acting on other target genes.     

Effect of different carbon sources on cellulase production by Hypocrea jecorina (Trichoderma reesei) strains

The ascomycete Hypocrea jecorina, an industrial (hemi)cellulase producer, can efficiently degrade plant polysaccharides. At present, the biology underlying cellulase hyperproduction of T. reesei, and the conditions for the enzyme induction, are not completely understood. In the current study, three different strains of T. reesei, including QM6a (wild-type), and mutants QM9414 and RUT-C30, were grown on 7 soluble and 7 insoluble carbon sources, with the later group including 4 pure polysaccharides and 3 lignocelluloses. Time course experiments showed that maximum cellulase activity of QM6a and QM9414 strains, for the majority of tested carbon sources, occurred at 120 hrs, while RUT-C30 had the greatest cellulase activity around 72 hrs. Maximum cellulase production was observed to be 0.035, 0.42 and 0.33 µmol glucose equivalents using microcrystalline celluloses for QM6a, QM9414, and RUTC-30, respectively. Increased cellulase production was positively correlated in QM9414 and negatively correlated in RUT-C30 with ability to grow on microcrystalline cellulose.     

敲除组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因hdac对里氏木霉纤维素酶表达的调控作用

[背景]里氏木霉(Trichoderma reesei)是木霉属中产纤维素酶最具代表性的真菌之一,表观遗传调控是不涉及DNA序列变化的可遗传变化,组蛋白去乙酰化是其中一种。组蛋白去乙酰化酶(histone deacetylase,HDAC)负责脱乙酰化,敲除去乙酰化酶基因可引起菌株孢子、菌丝及纤维素酶活性等的一系列改变。[目的]通过敲除里氏木霉组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因(histone deacetylase,hdac)建立了里氏木霉hdac缺失突变株(T.reesei△hdac),以研究对纤维素酶基因表达的调控作用。[方法]利用Split-Maker技术构建了组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因敲除表达盒,并转化了里氏木霉T.reesei QM9414。经PCR及Southern blotting验证正确后,对突变体T.reesei△hdac连续7 d检测滤纸酶活(filter paper activity,AFP)、羧甲基纤维素钠酶活(carboxymethyl cellulase activity,CMCA),利用RT-qPCR检测纤维素酶及其相关基因cbh1、egl1和xyr1的表达。[结果]突变体T.reesei△hdac两种酶活力均显著高于出发菌株,分别高出8.00、30.00 IU/mL。突变体T.reesei△hdac纤维素酶及其相关基因cbh1、egl1和xyr1的转录水平分别为出发菌株T.reesei QM9414的6.50、6.01和4.51倍。[结论]里氏木霉中纤维素酶的基因表达明显受到组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因(hdac)的调控,这为研究里氏木霉表观遗传调控对纤维素酶的影响提供了新的证据。     

敲除里氏木霉hkmt基因可增强纤维素酶的酶活性和表达水平

表观遗传是不涉及DNA序列变化的可遗传变化,包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和miRNA调控等。在组蛋白甲基化修饰中,主要是组蛋白赖氨酸甲基转移酶（histone lysine methyltransferase,HKMT）参与调控。有文献报道,HKMT蛋白的催化核心为SET结构域,它具有促进或抑制基因表达的作用。在里氏木霉(Trichoderma reesei)中,HKMT对纤维素酶基因的表达调控的机制尚不明确。本文阐述了以里氏木霉为研究对象,利用Split-Maker技术构建了组蛋白赖氨酸甲基转移酶基因敲除表达盒,并转化了里氏木霉T. reesei QM9414。经PCR及Southern印迹验证正确后,显微镜观察到T.reesei Δhkmt菌株菌丝较长,分支较多。检测到突变体菌株连续7d滤纸酶活（filter paper enzyme activity,AFP）和羧甲基纤维素钠酶活 (carboxymethyl cellulose sodium enzyme activity,CMCA)。结果分别比野生型菌株高出5.00 IU·mL^-1、15.00 IU·mL^-1。利用RT-qPCR检测到突变菌株纤维素酶及其相关基因cbh1、egl1和xyr1的表达分别高出野生型4.51、3.87和2.51倍。通过对野生型菌株和突变菌株形态特征、纤维素酶酶活性、纤维素酶相关基因表达量的探索,为进一步研究里氏木霉表观遗传调控对纤维素酶表达的影响提供了新思路和实验资料。     

敲除里氏木霉hkmt基因可增强纤维素酶的酶活性和表达水平

表观遗传是不涉及DNA序列变化的可遗传变化,包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和miRNA调控等。在组蛋白甲基化修饰中,主要是组蛋白赖氨酸甲基转移酶（histone lysine methyltransferase,HKMT）参与调控。有文献报道,HKMT蛋白的催化核心为SET结构域,它具有促进或抑制基因表达的作用。在里氏木霉(Trichoderma reesei)中,HKMT对纤维素酶基因的表达调控的机制尚不明确。本文阐述了以里氏木霉为研究对象,利用Split-Maker技术构建了组蛋白赖氨酸甲基转移酶基因敲除表达盒,并转化了里氏木霉T. reesei QM9414。经PCR及Southern印迹验证正确后,显微镜观察到T.reesei Δhkmt菌株菌丝较长,分支较多。检测到突变体菌株连续7d滤纸酶活（filter paper enzyme activity,AFP）和羧甲基纤维素钠酶活 (carboxymethyl cellulose sodium enzyme activity,CMCA)。结果分别比野生型菌株高出5.00 IU·mL^-1、15.00 IU·mL^-1。利用RT-qPCR检测到突变菌株纤维素酶及其相关基因cbh1、egl1和xyr1的表达分别高出野生型4.51、3.87和2.51倍。通过对野生型菌株和突变菌株形态特征、纤维素酶酶活性、纤维素酶相关基因表达量的探索,为进一步研究里氏木霉表观遗传调控对纤维素酶表达的影响提供了新思路和实验资料。     

Enhanced cellulase production from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 on physically treated wheat straw

Summary Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was grown on wheat straw as the sole carbon source. The straw was pretreated by physical and chemical methods. The particle size of straw was less than 0.177 mm. Growth of T. reesei QM 9414 was maximal with alkali-pretreated straw whereas cellulase production was optimal when physically pretreated straw was used as substrate. Cellulase yields expressed as IU enzyme activity/g cellulose present in the cultures were considerably higher when alkali pretreatment of wheat straw was omitted. Cellulase yields of 666 IU/g cellulose for filter paper activity (FPA) are the highest described for cultures of T. reesei QM 9414 carried out in analogous conditions. Crystallinity index of the cellulose contained in wheat straw increased slightly after alkali pretreatment. This increase did not decrease cellulose accessibility to the fungus. Delignification of wheat straw was not necessary to achieve the best cellulase production.     

A high cellulase-producing mutant strain of Trichoderma reesei

A mutant strain with increased production of cellulolytic enzymes was induced from the good cellulase producer Trichoderma reesei QM 9414. Cellulase activities of the mutant in fermenter cultivations were increased two- to three-fold and β-glucosidase activity up to six-fold when compared to the corresponding activities produced by QM 9414.     

液态发酵条件下拟康宁木霉8985产纤维素酶能力初探

液态发酵条件下,以微晶纤维素为唯一碳源,比较了拟康宁木霉Trichoderma koningiopsis 8985和里氏木霉T.reesei QM9414产纤维素酶的能力。8985发酵12 h开始产生纤维素酶,36 h时酶活达到产酶峰值的50%,此时QM9414尚未诱导产酶。测定8985发酵84 h时上清液中滤纸纤维素酶、羧甲基纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶和木聚糖酶的酶活分别为1.06、3.62、1.80和6.67 IU/mL,分别是QM9414上述酶活的1.72、1.70、6.35和1.12倍。8985滤纸纤维素酶酶活的最适反应条件为pH 4.5,反应温度50℃,在Fe³⁺(≤4 mmol/L)和Cu²⁺(0–10 mmol/L)存在条件下酶活稳定。     

Purification and characteristics of xyloglucanase and five other cellulolytic enzymes from Trichoderma reesei QM9414

By combining anion-exchange chromatography with gel filtration, an effective method for purification of wild-type xyloglucanase and five other cellulolytic enzymes from strain QM9414 of Trichoderma reesei was established. Characterization by enzyme activity assay, SDS-PAGE, and mass spectrometry identified the purified proteins as cellobiohydrolases I and II, endoglucanases I and II, a xyloglucanase, and β-xylosidase, of which the xyloglucanase was purified for the first time from the mutant strain QM9414. This method holds great promise to study the mechanism of cellulolytic enzymes, to investigate the synergistic action between cellulase and other cellulolytic enzymes, and to better exploit enzyme preparations for degradation of lignocellulose.     

Production of cellulase by Trichoderma.

The cellulase complex in T. viride is inducible. For large-scale enzyme production the fungus should be cultured on media containing cellulose. The cellulase enzymes are respressible. To produce and maintain best cellulase yields cultural conditions which lead to carbohydrate consumption in excess of cellular needs should be avoided. With the present mutant (QM9414) extracellular enzyme preparations having 1.6 FP units/ml and 1.6 mg protein/ml have been obtained within four to five days in submerged fermentation. Such preparations are capable of producing a 5% sugar solution when mixed with 10% ball milled cellulose and incubated 24 hr at 50 degrees C. Further improvements of cellulase yields are being sought by continued mutagenesis and increased nutrient levels in the growth medium.     

Adsorption of cellulose by Trichoderma viride

Adsorption of cellulase by Trichoderma viride QM 9414 has been studied with resting and growing cells and equations have been derived to describe the process quantitatively. It has been observed that the adsorption is a purely physical process being dependent only on cell and cellulose concentrations. It has also been demonstrated that adsorption isrequired for the induction of cellulases; some discussions are devoted to this point.     

里氏木霉不同糖苷水解酶基因转录水平比较分析

以前期里氏木霉RNA-seq中发现的7个糖苷水解酶基因为对象,分析其不同条件下的表达特性,以期为寻找新的纤维素降解功能酶提供证据。运用生物信息学方法,分析了7个基因可能的编码产物和结构特征。以不同的产纤维素酶菌株（QM 9414、RUT C30）为材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR,对7个糖苷水解酶基因（编号4–10）在各种碳源条件下转录情况与主要的3个纤维素酶基因cbh1,cbh2,egl1（编号1–3）进行了比较分析。信息学分析表明,7个基因编码蛋白分属于GH47（4号、5号）,GH92（6–8号）,GH16（9号）,GH31（10号）糖苷水解酶家族,具有典型的信号肽序列。cbh1,cbh2,egl1基因在纤维素酶诱导条件下,转录水平均表现显著的增加,上调倍数以QM 9414菌株表现的最高。QM 9414菌株中,cbh1,cbh2,egl1基因在纤维素条件下的上调倍数显著高于乳糖,3个基因在RUT C30菌株中的转录水平则显示乳糖条件下上调幅度更大。7个糖苷水解酶基因也存在类似的情况,而且编码α-甘露糖苷酶和内切β-葡聚糖酶的8号、9号基因上调倍数在纤维素酶诱导条件下仅次于纤维素酶基因,而以甘油为碳源条件下,8号、9号基因上调倍数高于纤维素酶基因。4号基因在上述碳源条件下,转录水平变化不大。结果表明：4号基因可能是组成型表达。基因5、6、7、8、9、10的表达呈现明显的菌株和碳源依赖性,且在纤维素酶诱导条件下基本上是和3个纤维素酶基因共转录的。     

Preparation of mutants ofTrichoderma viride with increased production of cellulase

Four mutant strains exhibiting increased production of cullulases were prepared by UV irradiation of conidia ofTrichoderma viride QM 9414. Selected mutants were tested for production of cellulases in submerged cultivations in shake flasks and in a 30-L fermentor in a synthetic medium containing 1 % microcrystaline cellulose as the carbon source. Some mutants showed considerable morphological differences when compared to the parent strain, the most noticeable being a higher degree of branching of the mutant hyphae. The branched mutants produced 2 to 3 times higher levels of β-glucosidase than the parent strain QM 9414.     

Regulation of cellulase gene expression in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei.

Basic features of regulation of expression of the genes encoding the cellulases of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei QM9414, the genes cbh1 and cbh2 encoding cellobiohydrolases and the genes egl1, egl2 and egl5 encoding endoglucanases, were studied at the mRNA level. The cellulase genes were coordinately expressed under all conditions studied, with the steady-state mRNA levels of cbh1 being the highest. Solka floc cellulose and the disaccharide sophorose induced expression to almost the same level. Moderate expression was observed when cellobiose or lactose was used as the carbon source. It was found that glycerol and sorbitol do not promote expression but, unlike glucose, do not inhibit it either, because the addition of 1 to 2 mM sophorose to glycerol or sorbitol cultures provokes high cellulase expression levels. These carbon sources thus provide a useful means to study cellulase regulation without significantly affecting the growth of the fungus. RNA slot blot experiments showed that no expression could be observed on glucose-containing medium and that high glucose levels abolish the inducing effect of sophorose. The results clearly show that distinct and clear-cut mechanisms of induction and glucose repression regulate cellulase expression in an actively growing fungus. However, derepression of cellulase expression occurs without apparent addition of an inducer once glucose has been depleted from the medium. This expression seems not to arise simply from starvation, since the lack of carbon or nitrogen as such is not sufficient to trigger significant expression.