Project description:The biodegradation of lignite (brown coal) by microorganisms has the potential for bioremediation of contaminated mining sites and to generate alternative ways to valorize lignite, such as by producing humic acids or building block chemicals. Previously, a lignite-degrading strain of Trichoderma was isolated, but the genomic and transcriptomic basis of its lignite-degrading ability remained unknown. Here we report that the sequenced genome of the T. cf. simile WF8 strain encoded for enzymes with roles in the degradation of lignite, and potentially tolerance to lignite-breakdown products. There was only a small number of annotated unique genes in the T. cf. simile WF8 genome compared to other fungi, and likely the expression of gene families shared with other fungi is a key factor in lignite biosolubilization by T. cf. simile. The transcriptomes were analyzed of T. cf. simile cultured at two time-points with the lignite-breakdown model compounds 4-phenoxybenzoic acid (which was growth inhibitory), and phenetole and 9-10-dibutoxyanthracene (neither of which inhibited growth), and showed ~20% of genes up-regulated by one or more of these compounds. The analysis highlights candidates for characterization and engineering enzyme over-expressing T. cf. simile strains with potentially improved degradation capacity, e.g., laccases and peroxidases, or tolerance and catabolism of breakdown products, e.g., cytochrome P450s, and ring cleavage dioxygenases.
Project description:Genome and transcriptome analysis of the lignite-degrading Trichoderma cf. simile WF8 strain highlights potential degradation mechanisms
Project description:We did bulk RNA sequencing in newborn cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF pig kidney. We compared kidney gene expression profiling between non-CF and CF pigs. RNA sequencing results showed that there is not significant difference between non-CF and CF in terms of gene expression, suggesting that CFTR knockout does not affect kidney development in newborn pigs.
Project description:Plant-beneficial fungi from the genus Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) can control oomyceteous plant-pathogenic Pythium myriotylum (Peronosporales, Oomycota) and thus serve as bioeffectors for the eco-friendly products of crop protection. However, the underlying mechanisms of microbe-microbe interactions have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we focused on the role of the Trichoderma secretome induced by P. myriotylum mycelia. For this purpose, we selected strains showing strong (T. asperellum, T. atroviride, T. virens), moderate (T. cf. guizhouense, T. reesei), and weak (T. parepimyces) activities, respectively, and cultured with the sterilized P. myriotylum mycelia. Secreted proteins were analyzed using label-free LC-MS/MS, bioinformatic localization prediction, gene ontology (GO) annotation, and ortholog analysis. The exoproteomic analysis quantified proteins in the six Trichoderma spp., suggesting unequal antagonistic mechanisms among the strong and weak strains, respectively, with different proportions of putative cellulases, proteases, redox enzymes, and extracellular proteins of unknown function. Notably, proteolysis-related proteins were abundant, while the abundant proteases tended not to be conserved across the species (i.e., non-orthologous). Putative cellobiohydrolases were detected abundantly in all Trichoderma species except for the weak antagonist T. parepimyces, even though its genome encodes for these proteins. Notably, secretomes of the most potent anti-Pythium bioeffectors tended to have higher endo-cellulase activity. Cellulose and other glucans are major components of the oomycete cell wall, which was partly reflected in the cellulases produced by the Trichoderma species. The varying abundances of orthologous proteins suggested the evolution of differing transcription regulation mechanisms across the Trichoderma genus in response to the ubiquitous presence of Oomycota.