Deletion of pH Regulator pac-3 Affects Cellulase and Xylanase Activity during Sugarcane Bagasse Degradation by Neurospora crassa

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 20;12(1):e0169796. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169796. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Microorganisms play a vital role in bioethanol production whose usage as fuel energy is increasing worldwide. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa synthesize and secrete the major enzymes involved in plant cell wall deconstruction. The production of cellulases and hemicellulases is known to be affected by the environmental pH; however, the regulatory mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the pH regulator PAC-3 in N. crassa during their growth on sugarcane bagasse at different pH conditions. Our data indicate that secretion of cellulolytic enzymes is reduced in the mutant Δpac-3 at alkaline pH, whereas xylanases are positively regulated by PAC-3 in acidic (pH 5.0), neutral (pH 7.0), and alkaline (pH 10.0) medium. Gene expression profiles, evaluated by real-time qPCR, revealed that genes encoding cellulases and hemicellulases are also subject to PAC-3 control. Moreover, deletion of pac-3 affects the expression of transcription factor-encoding genes. Together, the results suggest that the regulation of holocellulase genes by PAC-3 can occur as directly as in indirect manner. Our study helps improve the understanding of holocellulolytic performance in response to PAC-3 and should thereby contribute to the better use of N. crassa in the biotechnology industry.

MeSH terms

  • Cellulase / metabolism*
  • Cellulose / metabolism*
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Neurospora crassa / enzymology
  • Neurospora crassa / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Saccharum / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Cellulose
  • bagasse
  • Cellulase
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Brazilian Funding Agencies: São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), (Grant No 2014/09493-2, ACCA) (Grant No 2014/03847-7; AR, RSS, AHSC), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), (Grant No 304222/2013-5), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Apoio ao Ensino, Pesquisa e Assistência (FAEPA).