scholarly journals Insights into Thermophilic Plant Biomass Hydrolysis from Caldicellulosiruptor Systems Biology

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E. Blumer-Schuette
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Carbohydrate Active Enzymes ◽  
Biomass Hydrolysis ◽  
Thermostable Enzymes ◽  
Plant Polysaccharides ◽  
Current State

Plant polysaccharides continue to serve as a promising feedstock for bioproduct fermentation. However, the recalcitrant nature of plant biomass requires certain key enzymes, including cellobiohydrolases, for efficient solubilization of polysaccharides. Thermostable carbohydrate-active enzymes are sought for their stability and tolerance to other process parameters. Plant biomass degrading microbes found in biotopes like geothermally heated water sources, compost piles, and thermophilic digesters are a common source of thermostable enzymes. While traditional thermophilic enzyme discovery first focused on microbe isolation followed by functional characterization, metagenomic sequences are negating the initial need for species isolation. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge about the extremely thermophilic genus Caldicellulosiruptor, including genomic and metagenomic analyses in addition to recent breakthroughs in enzymology and genetic manipulation of the genus. Ten years after completing the first Caldicellulosiruptor genome sequence, the tools required for systems biology of this non-model environmental microorganism are in place.

scholarly journals Modernized Tools for Streamlined Genetic Manipulation and Comparative Study of Wild and Diverse Proteobacterial Lineages

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis J. Wiles ◽  
Elena S. Wall ◽  
Brandon H. Schlomann ◽  
Edouard A. Hay ◽  
Raghuveer Parthasarathy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Symbiotic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Allelic Exchange ◽  
Genetic Techniques

ABSTRACTCorrelating the presence of bacteria and the genes they carry with aspects of plant and animal biology is rapidly outpacing the functional characterization of naturally occurring symbioses. A major barrier to mechanistic studies is the lack of tools for the efficient genetic manipulation of wild and diverse bacterial isolates. To address the need for improved molecular tools, we used a collection of proteobacterial isolates native to the zebrafish intestinal microbiota as a testbed to construct a series of modernized vectors that expedite genetic knock-in and knockout procedures across lineages. The innovations that we introduce enhance the flexibility of conventional genetic techniques, making it easier to manipulate many different bacterial isolates with a single set of tools. We developed alternative strategies for domestication-free conjugation, designed plasmids with customizable features, and streamlined allelic exchange using visual markers of homologous recombination. We demonstrate the potential of these tools through a comparative study of bacterial behavior within the zebrafish intestine. Live imaging of fluorescently tagged isolates revealed a spectrum of distinct population structures that differ in their biogeography and dominant growth mode (i.e., planktonic versus aggregated). Most striking, we observed divergent genotype-phenotype relationships: several isolates that are predicted by genomic analysis andin vitroassays to be capable of flagellar motility do not display this trait within living hosts. Together, the tools generated in this work provide a new resource for the functional characterization of wild and diverse bacterial lineages that will help speed the research pipeline from sequencing-based correlations to mechanistic underpinnings.IMPORTANCEA great challenge in microbiota research is the immense diversity of symbiotic bacteria with the capacity to impact the lives of plants and animals. Moving beyond correlative DNA sequencing-based studies to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which symbiotic bacteria influence the biology of their hosts is stalling because genetic manipulation of new and uncharacterized bacterial isolates remains slow and difficult with current genetic tools. Moreover, developing tools de novo is an arduous and time-consuming task and thus represents a significant barrier to progress. To address this problem, we developed a suite of engineering vectors that streamline conventional genetic techniques by improving postconjugation counterselection, modularity, and allelic exchange. Our modernized tools and step-by-step protocols will empower researchers to investigate the inner workings of both established and newly emerging models of bacterial symbiosis.

scholarly journals Efficient Plant Biomass Degradation by Thermophilic Fungus Myceliophthora heterothallica

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1316-1324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost van den Brink ◽  
Gonny C. J. van Muiswinkel ◽  
Bart Theelen ◽  
Sandra W. A. Hinz ◽  
Ronald P. de Vries
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Giant Reed ◽  
Thermophilic Fungi ◽  
Biomass Degradation ◽  
Thermostable Enzymes ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTRapid and efficient enzymatic degradation of plant biomass into fermentable sugars is a major challenge for the sustainable production of biochemicals and biofuels. Enzymes that are more thermostable (up to 70°C) use shorter reaction times for the complete saccharification of plant polysaccharides compared to hydrolytic enzymes of mesophilic fungi such asTrichodermaandAspergillusspecies. The genusMyceliophthoracontains four thermophilic fungi producing industrially relevant thermostable enzymes. Within this genus, isolates belonging toM. heterothallicawere recently separated from the well-described speciesM. thermophila. We evaluate here the potential ofM. heterothallicaisolates to produce efficient enzyme mixtures for biomass degradation. Compared to the other thermophilicMyceliophthoraspecies, isolates belonging toM. heterothallicaandM. thermophilagrew faster on pretreated spruce, wheat straw, and giant reed. According to their protein profiles andin vitroassays after growth on wheat straw, (hemi-)cellulolytic activities differed strongly betweenM. thermophilaandM. heterothallicaisolates. Compared toM. thermophila,M. heterothallicaisolates were better in releasing sugars from mildly pretreated wheat straw (with 5% HCl) with a high content of xylan. The high levels of residual xylobiose revealed that enzyme mixtures ofMyceliophthoraspecies lack sufficient β-xylosidase activity. Sexual crossing of twoM. heterothallicashowed that progenies had a large genetic and physiological diversity. In the future, this will allow further improvement of the plant biomass-degrading enzyme mixtures ofM. heterothallica.

scholarly journals Functional Diversity of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes Enabling a Bacterium to Ferment Plant Biomass

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e1004773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magali Boutard ◽  
Tristan Cerisy ◽  
Pierre-Yves Nogue ◽  
Adriana Alberti ◽  
Jean Weissenbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Carbohydrate Active Enzymes

scholarly journals Identification of an Oligosaccharide Dehydrogenase from Pycnoporus Cinnabarinus Provides Insights into Fungal Breakdown of Lignocellulose

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Cerutti ◽  
Elena Gugole ◽  
Linda Celeste Montemiglio ◽  
Annick Turbé-Doan ◽  
Dehbia Chena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Free Form ◽  
Lignocellulose Degradation ◽  
Carbohydrate Active Enzymes ◽  
Recognition Mechanism ◽  
Pycnoporus Cinnabarinus ◽  
Enzymatic Function

Abstract Background: Fungal glucose dehydrogenases (GDHs) are FAD-dependent enzymes belonging to the glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase superfamily. These enzymes are classified in the “Auxiliary Activity” family 3 (AA3) of the Carbohydrate-Active enZymes database, and more specifically in subfamily AA3_2, that also includes the closely related flavoenzymes aryl-alcohol oxidase and glucose 1-oxidase. Based on sequence similarity to known fungal GDHs, an AA3_2 enzyme active on glucose was identified in the genome of Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, a model Basidiomycete able to completely degrade lignin.Results: In our work, substrate screening and functional characterization showed an unexpected preferential activity of this enzyme toward oligosaccharides containing a b(1à3) glycosidic bond, with the highest efficiency observed for the disaccharide laminaribiose. Despite its sequence similarity to GDHs, we defined a novel enzymatic activity, namely oligosaccharide dehydrogenase (ODH), for this enzyme. The crystallographic structures of ODH in the sugar-free form and in complex with glucose and laminaribiose unveiled a peculiar saccharide recognition mechanism which is not shared with previously characterized AA3 oxidoreductases and accounts for ODH preferential activity toward oligosaccharides. The sugar molecules in the active site of ODH are mainly stabilized through CH-p interactions with aromatic residues rather than through hydrogen bonds with highly conserved residues, as observed instead for the fungal glucose dehydrogenases and oxidases characterized to date. Finally, three sugar-binding sites were identified on ODH external surface, which were not previously observed and might be of importance in the physiological scenario.Conclusions: Structure-function analysis of ODH is consistent with its role as an auxiliary enzyme in lignocellulose degradation and unveils yet another enzymatic function within the AA3 family of the Carbohydrate-Active enZymes database. Our findings allow deciphering the molecular determinants of substrate binding and provide insight into the physiological role of ODH, opening new perspectives to exploit biodiversity for lignocellulose transformation into fuels and chemicals.

scholarly journals Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Tools for Genome Editing in the White-Rot Fungus Dichomitus squalens

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1526
Author(s):  
Joanna E. Kowalczyk ◽  
Shreya Saha ◽  
Miia R. Mäkelä
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
White Rot ◽  
White Rot Fungus ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Dichomitus Squalens

Dichomitus squalens is an emerging reference species that can be used to investigate white-rot fungal plant biomass degradation, as it has flexible physiology to utilize different types of biomass as sources of carbon and energy. Recent comparative (post-) genomic studies on D. squalens resulted in an increasingly detailed knowledge of the genes and enzymes involved in the lignocellulose breakdown in this fungus and showed a complex transcriptional response in the presence of lignocellulose-derived compounds. To fully utilize this increasing amount of data, efficient and reliable genetic manipulation tools are needed, e.g., to characterize the function of certain proteins in vivo and facilitate the construction of strains with enhanced lignocellulolytic capabilities. However, precise genome alterations are often very difficult in wild-type basidiomycetes partially due to extremely low frequencies of homology directed recombination (HDR) and limited availability of selectable markers. To overcome these obstacles, we assessed various Cas9-single guide RNA (sgRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) -based strategies for selectable homology and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) -based gene editing in D. squalens. We also showed an induction of HDR-based genetic modifications by using single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) in a basidiomycete fungus for the first time. This paper provides directions for the application of targeted CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in D. squalens and other wild-type (basidiomycete) fungi.

scholarly journals Complementary Contribution of Fungi and Bacteria to Lignocellulose Digestion in the Food Stored by a Neotropical Higher Termite

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edimar A. Moreira ◽  
Gabriela F. Persinoti ◽  
Letícia R. Menezes ◽  
Douglas A. A. Paixão ◽  
Thabata M. Alvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Carbohydrate Active Enzymes ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Its Sequence Analysis ◽  
Gut Symbionts ◽  
Cazy Genes ◽  
Complementary Set ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Differential Expression Of Genes

Lignocellulose digestion in termites is achieved through the functional synergy between gut symbionts and host enzymes. However, some species have evolved additional associations with nest microorganisms that collaborate in the decomposition of plant biomass. In a previous study, we determined that plant material packed with feces inside the nests of Cornitermes cumulans (Syntermitinae) harbors a distinct microbial assemblage. These food nodules also showed a high hemicellulolytic activity, possibly acting as an external place for complementary lignocellulose digestion. In this study, we used a combination of ITS sequence analysis, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics to investigate the presence and differential expression of genes coding for carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) in the food nodules and the gut of workers and soldiers. Our results confirm that food nodules express a distinct set of CAZy genes suggesting that stored plant material is initially decomposed by enzymes that target the lignin and complex polysaccharides from fungi and bacteria before the passage through the gut, where it is further targeted by a complementary set of cellulases, xylanases, and esterases produced by the gut microbiota and the termite host. We also showed that the expression of CAZy transcripts associated to endoglucanases and xylanases was higher in the gut of termites than in the food nodules. An additional finding in this study was the presence of fungi in the termite gut that expressed CAZy genes. This study highlights the importance of externalization of digestion by nest microbes and provides new evidence of complementary digestion in the context of higher termite evolution.

HPLC-analyses of plant biomass hydrolysis and fermentation solutions

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 445-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bonn ◽  
O. Bobleter
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Biomass Hydrolysis ◽  
Hplc Analyses

scholarly journals A structural and kinetic survey of GH5_4 endoglucanases reveals determinants of broad substrate specificity and opportunities for biomass hydrolysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (51) ◽  
pp. 17752-17769
Author(s):  
Evan M. Glasgow ◽  
Elias I. Kemna ◽  
Craig A. Bingman ◽  
Nicole Ing ◽  
Kai Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Protein Design ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Catalytic Efficiency ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Glycoside Hydrolases ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Biomass Hydrolysis ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Broad Specificity

Broad-specificity glycoside hydrolases (GHs) contribute to plant biomass hydrolysis by degrading a diverse range of polysaccharides, making them useful catalysts for renewable energy and biocommodity production. Discovery of new GHs with improved kinetic parameters or more tolerant substrate-binding sites could increase the efficiency of renewable bioenergy production even further. GH5 has over 50 subfamilies exhibiting selectivities for reaction with β-(1,4)–linked oligo- and polysaccharides. Among these, subfamily 4 (GH5_4) contains numerous broad-selectivity endoglucanases that hydrolyze cellulose, xyloglucan, and mixed-linkage glucans. We previously surveyed the whole subfamily and found over 100 new broad-specificity endoglucanases, although the structural origins of broad specificity remained unclear. A mechanistic understanding of GH5_4 substrate specificity would help inform the best protein design strategies and the most appropriate industrial application of broad-specificity endoglucanases. Here we report structures of 10 new GH5_4 enzymes from cellulolytic microbes and characterize their substrate selectivity using normalized reducing sugar assays and MS. We found that GH5_4 enzymes have the highest catalytic efficiency for hydrolysis of xyloglucan, glucomannan, and soluble β-glucans, with opportunistic secondary reactions on cellulose, mannan, and xylan. The positions of key aromatic residues determine the overall reaction rate and breadth of substrate tolerance, and they contribute to differences in oligosaccharide cleavage patterns. Our new composite model identifies several critical structural features that confer broad specificity and may be readily engineered into existing industrial enzymes. We demonstrate that GH5_4 endoglucanases can have broad specificity without sacrificing high activity, making them a valuable addition to the biomass deconstruction toolset.

scholarly journals Systems Biology and Kidney Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Schaub ◽  
Habib Hamidi ◽  
Lalita Subramanian ◽  
Matthias Kretzler
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Current State ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
National Databases ◽  
Different Cell Types

The kidney is a complex organ responsible for maintaining multiple aspects of homeostasis in the human body. The combination of distinct, yet interrelated, molecular functions across different cell types make the delineation of factors associated with loss or decline in kidney function challenging. Consequently, there has been a paucity of new diagnostic markers and treatment options becoming available to clinicians and patients in managing kidney diseases. A systems biology approach to understanding the kidney leverages recent advances in computational technology and methods to integrate diverse sets of data. It has the potential to unravel the interplay of multiple genes, proteins, and molecular mechanisms that drive key functions in kidney health and disease. The emergence of large, detailed, multilevel biologic and clinical data from national databases, cohort studies, and trials now provide the critical pieces needed for meaningful application of systems biology approaches in nephrology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current state in the evolution of the field. Recent successes of systems biology to identify targeted therapies linked to mechanistic biomarkers in the kidney are described to emphasize the relevance to clinical care and the outlook for improving outcomes for patients with kidney diseases.

scholarly journals Influence of biopreparations on biomass yield and grain efficiency of energy corn

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
Zoya Pustova ◽  
Natalia Pustova ◽  
Serhii Komarnitskyi ◽  
Oleg Tkach ◽  
Stepan Zamoiskyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Biomass Yield ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Current State

The possibilities of using resources of the plant biomass as an effective renewable energy source are analyzed. The issues of the current state of corn for grain production, peculiarities of its cultivation and the possibility of using agrarian residues in corn production to produce energy are considered in the study.

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