The Transcription Factor Roc1 Is a Key Regulator of Cellulose Degradation in the Wood-Decaying Mushroom Schizophyllum commune

Abstract

Wood-degrading fungi in the phylum Basidiomycota play a crucial role in nutrient recycling by breaking down all components of wood. Fungi have evolved transcriptional networks that regulate expression of wood-degrading enzymes, allowing them to prioritize one nutrient source over another.

Preassembled Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein-Mediated Gene Deletion Identifies the Carbon Catabolite Repressor and Its Target Genes in Coprinopsis cinerea

“…We also found that the C. cinerea ortholog (protein ID: 447627) of the S. commune roc1 transcription factor was significantly upregulated in both mutants. Roc1 was recently described as a regulator of cellulase genes in S. commune ( 46 ). Similarly, a heat shock factor-type gene (protein ID: 523533) related to the S. cerevisiae skn7 transcription factor was upregulated in both mutants.…”

Pre-assembled Cas9 ribonucleoprotein-mediated gene deletion identifies the carbon catabolite repressor and its target genes in Coprinopsis cinerea

“…These transcription factors include ones specifically responsible for the activation of substrate-specific sets of enzyme-encoding PCWDEs, such as xylanases, cellulases, pectinases (Benocci et al, 2017, Thieme et al, 2017, Klaubauf et al, 2014. While several TFs regulating specific PCWDE genes have been described in the Ascomycetes, only a single gene, Roc1 of S. commune (Marian et al, 2021) has been associated with cellulose degradation in the Basidiomycota. Our data revealed several transcription factors that are differentially expressed in C. cinerea cre1 mutants, providing candidates for novel TFs related to plant biomass utilisation.…”

“…First, the C. cinerea ortholog of Roc1 ortholog is upregulated in both independent C. cinerea cre1 mutants. The Schizophyllum commune transcription factor gene roc1, which is conserved among Agaricomycetes, was strongly upregulated in the cellulose containing medium and knockouts showed reduced growth on the cellulose medium, demonstrating its importance in regulating cellulose degrading genes (Marian et al, 2021). ChIP-Seq analysis of S. commune Roc1 identified promoters of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation, particularly LPMOs (Marian et al, 2021).…”

“…The Schizophyllum commune transcription factor gene roc1, which is conserved among Agaricomycetes, was strongly upregulated in the cellulose containing medium and knockouts showed reduced growth on the cellulose medium, demonstrating its importance in regulating cellulose degrading genes (Marian et al, 2021). ChIP-Seq analysis of S. commune Roc1 identified promoters of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation, particularly LPMOs (Marian et al, 2021). The upregulation of the C. cinerea Roc1 ortholog in C. cinerea cre1 mutants may reveal a conserved link between the two transcription factors in regulating lignocellulose degradation.…”

“…We also found that the C. cinerea ortholog (protein ID: 447627) of the S. commune roc1 transcription factor was significantly upregulated in both mutants. Roc1 was recently described as a regulator of cellulase genes in S. commune (Marian et al, 2021). Similarly, a heat shock factor-type gene (protein ID: 523533) related to the S. cerevisiae skn7 transcription factor was upregulated in both mutants.…”