Integrated Transcriptome and Untargeted Metabolomic Analyses Revealed the Role of Methyltransferase Lae1 in the Regulation of Phospholipid Metabolism in Trichoderma atroviride

Abstract

The putative methyltransferase Lae1 is a global regulator in Trichoderma, which modulates the expression of secondary metabolite gene clusters, possibly via chromatin remodeling. Here we aimed to explore the specific transcription and metabolites profiles regulated by Lae1 in T. atroviride 23. Comparative transcriptomics and metabolome analyses between the lae1 deletion (Mlae1) and over-expressing (Olae1) mutants were performed using RNA sequencing and QTOF-UPLC-MS techniques. In total, 1344 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 92 metabolites were identified across three strains. The significantly altered metabolic profiles revealed that the lae1 gene modulates central carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, secondary metabolism, and phospholipid metabolism. The effects of lae1 on phospholipid metabolism were further explored, and the findings showed that lae1 modulates the composition and function of cell membranes and other metabolic activities, including the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SM). Phospholipid metabolism is related to energy metabolism, signal transduction, and environmental adaptability of microorganisms. These data showed that Lae1 affects the primary metabolites, phospholipid, as well as the regulation of secondary metabolites in Trichoderma. This study could potentially provoke in-depth investigations of the Lae1-mediated target genes in phospholipid synthesis. The Lae1 may act as a novel target that is associated with disease defense and drug development in the future.

Metabolic Features of a Novel Trichoderma asperellum YNQJ1002 with Potent Antagonistic Activity against Fusarium graminearum

“…Both sphingolipid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism are crucial for maintaining cell membrane integrity, regulating cell signaling, and influencing various physiological processes in fungi [46]. They aid in the regulation of membrane potential, the influx and efflux of metabolites, vesicular transport, and in forming membrane signaling domains known as lipid rafts [47,48]. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and their derivatives, such as linoleic acid and methyl linoleate, have been widely recognized as bioactive fungicides used to control phytopathogenic fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum and Magnaporthe oryzae [49,50].…”