Journal Article

Characterization of four endophytic fungi as potential consolidated bioprocessing hosts for conversion of lignocellulose into advanced biofuels

Lindquist, Erika, Architecture et fonction des macromolécules biologiques (AFMB) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute ; University of California (UC), Chovatia, Mansi, Wu, Weihua, Labutti, Kurt, US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute ; U.S Department of Energy ; U.S. Department of Energy [Washington] (DOE)-U.S. Department of Energy [Washington] (DOE), Mihaltcheva, Sirma, Hundley, Hope, Davis, Ryan, Kuo, Alan, Tran-Gyamfi, Mary Bao, Barry, Kerrie, Henrissat, Bernard, Grigoriev, Igor, United States Department of Energy, Dept Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Res Ctr, Gladden, John, Joint Genome Institute ; United States Department of Energy

2017

Overview

Recently, several endophytic fungi have been demonstrated to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with properties similar to fossil fuels, called \"mycodiesel,\" while growing on lignocellulosic plant and agricultural residues. The fact that endophytes are plant symbionts suggests that some may be able to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes, making them capable of both deconstructing lignocellulose and converting it into mycodiesel, two properties that indicate that these strains may be useful consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) hosts for the biofuel production. In this study, four endophytes Hypoxylon sp. CI4A, Hypoxylon sp. EC38, Hypoxylon sp. CO27, and Daldinia eschscholzii EC12 were selected and evaluated for their CBP potential. Analysis of their genomes indicates that these endophytes have a rich reservoir of biomass-deconstructing carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZys), which includes enzymes active on both polysaccharides and lignin, as well as terpene synthases (TPSs), enzymes that may produce fuel-like molecules, suggesting that they do indeed have CBP potential. GC-MS analyses of their VOCs when grown on four representative lignocellulosic feedstocks revealed that these endophytes produce a wide spectrum of hydrocarbons, the majority of which are monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, including some known biofuel candidates. Analysis of their cellulase activity when grown under the same conditions revealed that these endophytes actively produce endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases. The richness of CAZymes as well as terpene synthases identified in these four endophytic fungi suggests that they are great candidates to pursue for development into platform CBP organisms.

• Publisher: Springer Verlag,CCSD,Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: agricultural wastes / Algae / Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - genetics / Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - metabolism / Alternative energy sources / Analysis / Bacteriology / beta-glucosidase / Biochemistry / Biochemistry, Molecular Biology / Biodiesel fuels / Bioenergy and Biofuels / Biofuels / Biomass / Biomass energy / Biomedical and Life Sciences / bioprocessing / Biotechnology / Carbon / Cellulase / Cellulase - genetics / Cellulase - metabolism / Cellulases / Cellulases - genetics / Cellulases - metabolism / Cellulose / Crop residues / Daldinia / Emerging diseases / endo-1,4-beta-glucanase / Endophytes / Endophytes - classification / Endophytes - enzymology / Endophytes - genetics / Enzymes / feedstocks / Fossil fuels / fuel production / Fungal Proteins / Fungal Proteins - genetics / Fungal Proteins - metabolism / Fungi / gas chromatography-mass spectrometry / Gene Expression / genome / Genome, Fungal / Genomes / Genomics / Glycoside Hydrolases / Glycoside Hydrolases - genetics / Glycoside Hydrolases - metabolism / hosts / Human health and pathology / Hypoxylon / Immunology / Infectious diseases / Innate immunity / Life Sciences / Lignin / Lignin - metabolism / Lignocellulose / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Microbiology / Microbiology and Parasitology / Monoterpenes / Monoterpenes - metabolism / monoterpenoids / Neurobiology / Neurons and Cognition / Organic compounds / Organisms / Pharmaceutical sciences / Pharmacology / Phylogeny / Pollution control / Polysaccharides / Polysaccharides - metabolism / Quantitative Methods / Raw materials / Saccharides / Sesquiterpenes / Sesquiterpenes - metabolism / sesquiterpenoids / Structural Biology / symbionts / Virology / VOCs / Volatile Organic Compounds / Volatile Organic Compounds - metabolism / Xylariales / Xylariales - classification / Xylariales - enzymology / Xylariales - genetics