Journal Article

Comparative genomic analysis of the thermophilic biomass-degrading fungi Myceliophthora thermophila and Thielavia terrestris

Moisan, Marie-Claude, Lindquist, Erika, Reid, Ian, Natvig, Donald O, Powell, Amy J, Salamov, Asaf, Harris, Paul, Taylor, David, LaBoissiere, Sylvie, Tsang, Adrian, Ishmael, Nadeeza, Henrissat, Bernard, Ushinsky, Sophia, Darmond, Corinne, Coutinho, Pedro M, Wogulis, Mark, Magnuson, Jon, Schmutz, Jeremy, Butler, Gregory, John, Tricia, Storms, Reginald, Baker, Scott E, Lucas, Susan, Powlowski, Justin, Clutterbuck, A John, Otillar, Robert, Grimwood, Jane, Martinez, Diego, Rey, Michael W, de Vries, Ronald P, Grigoriev, Igor V, Bellemare, Annie, Allijn, Iris E, Elbourne, Liam D H, Berka, Randy M, van den Brink, Joost, de Leon, Alfredo Lopez, Lombard, Vincent, Paulsen, Ian T

2011

Overview

Thermostable enzymes are used for a range of industrial processes, including biofuel production. Berka et al . report the genome sequences of two thermophilic eukaryotic fungi with enzymes that operate at the elevated temperatures needed to digest biomass and prepare many biochemicals. Thermostable enzymes and thermophilic cell factories may afford economic advantages in the production of many chemicals and biomass-based fuels. Here we describe and compare the genomes of two thermophilic fungi, Myceliophthora thermophila and Thielavia terrestris . To our knowledge, these genomes are the first described for thermophilic eukaryotes and the first complete telomere-to-telomere genomes for filamentous fungi. Genome analyses and experimental data suggest that both thermophiles are capable of hydrolyzing all major polysaccharides found in biomass. Examination of transcriptome data and secreted proteins suggests that the two fungi use shared approaches in the hydrolysis of cellulose and xylan but distinct mechanisms in pectin degradation. Characterization of the biomass-hydrolyzing activity of recombinant enzymes suggests that these organisms are highly efficient in biomass decomposition at both moderate and high temperatures. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that aside from representing a potential reservoir of thermostable enzymes, thermophilic fungi are amenable to manipulation using classical and molecular genetics.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/326/193 / 631/61/212/748 / Agriculture / Ascomycota - enzymology / Ascomycota - genetics / Ascomycota - growth & development / Bacteria, Thermophilic / Biodegradation / Biodegradation, Environmental / Bioinformatics / Biological and medical sciences / Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest / Biomass / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology / Biomedicine / Biotechnology / Cellulose / Decomposition / Economics / Enzymes / Eukaryotes / Experimental data / Fuels / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Fungal Proteins - genetics / Fungal Proteins - secretion / Fungi / Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Genetic aspects / Genetics / Genome, Fungal - genetics / Genomics / Genomics - methods / High temperature / Hydrolysis / Life Sciences / Medicago sativa - metabolism / Miscellaneous / Mission oriented research / Models, Genetic / Molecular Sequence Data / Myceliophthora thermophila / Phylogeny / Polysaccharides - metabolism / Proteins / Proteome - genetics / Reservoirs / RNA, Messenger - genetics / RNA, Messenger - metabolism / Saccharides / Temperature / Transcription, Genetic