Research Projects

Cellulase production in filamentous fungi is induced by cellulose, but macromolecular cellulose cannot enter cells. Membrane-bound constitutive cellulases act on insoluble cellulose and release saccharides, potentially inducing a cellulase production cascade. Cellobiose, lactose, maltose, and sophorose have been explored as inducers, but their rational scrutiny for cellulase production is lacking. A recent study identified natural cellulase inducers in the hypercellulolytic Talaromyces strain using a multi-omics approach. Cellobiose: Gentiobiose (2.5:1) showed a 300% increase in cellulase production. However, the molecular mechanism underlying inducer-mediated induction is still unknown. Preliminary experiments suggest membrane proteins sensing the natural cellulose-derived inducer and signaling cellulase secretion. Transcriptomic experiments reveal differentially upregulated genes/pathways/proteins in the presence of inducers. The current proposal aims to understand the inducer-mediated cellulase induction cascade using hypercellulolytic Talaromyces sp. as a model strain. Rational scrutiny of membrane proteins or transceptors will be performed using a transcriptomics and proteomics approach. Transceptors will be overexpressed to augment the signal perceived from natural inducers, boosting cellulase secretion and productivity.