Genomic and secretomic analyses reveal unique features of the lignocellulolytic enzyme system of Penicillium decumbens

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e55185. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055185. Epub 2013 Feb 1.

Abstract

Many Penicillium species could produce extracellular enzyme systems with good lignocellulose hydrolysis performance. However, these species and their enzyme systems are still poorly understood and explored due to the lacking of genetic information. Here, we present the genomic and secretomic analyses of Penicillium decumbens that has been used in industrial production of lignocellulolytic enzymes in China for more than fifteen years. Comparative genomics analysis with the phylogenetically most similar species Penicillium chrysogenum revealed that P. decumbens has evolved with more genes involved in plant cell wall degradation, but fewer genes in cellular metabolism and regulation. Compared with the widely used cellulase producer Trichoderma reesei, P. decumbens has a lignocellulolytic enzyme system with more diverse components, particularly for cellulose binding domain-containing proteins and hemicellulases. Further, proteomic analysis of secretomes revealed that P. decumbens produced significantly more lignocellulolytic enzymes in the medium with cellulose-wheat bran as the carbon source than with glucose. The results expand our knowledge on the genetic information of lignocellulolytic enzyme systems in Penicillium species, and will facilitate rational strain improvement for the production of highly efficient enzyme systems used in lignocellulose utilization from Penicillium species.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofuels*
  • Bioreactors*
  • Biotechnology
  • Cellulases / biosynthesis*
  • Cellulases / genetics
  • China
  • Genomics / methods
  • Lignin / metabolism*
  • Penicillium / enzymology*
  • Penicillium / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Transcription Factors
  • lignocellulose
  • Lignin
  • Cellulases

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China (Grant no. 2011CB707403), National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (Grant no. 31030001) and International S&T Cooperation Program of China (2010DFA32560). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.