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Self versus non-self: fungal cell wall degradation in Trichoderma
Sabine Gruber1, Verena Seidl-Seiboth1
1Research Area Gene Technology and Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Strasse 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria.
Microbiology (Reading, England)
|August 30, 2011
Summary
Trichoderma fungi use chitinases for both attacking prey and self-cell wall remodeling. The study suggests substrate accessibility, not enzyme specialization, regulates this dual function.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
Background:
- Mycoparasitism involves breaking down prey cell walls.
- Trichoderma species possess numerous genes for cell wall-degrading enzymes, particularly chitinases (Glycoside Hydrolase family 18).
- These enzymes also play roles in fungal self-cell wall maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on fungal cell wall degrading enzymes in Trichoderma.
- To investigate how Trichoderma distinguishes between self and non-self fungal cell wall degradation.
- To explore the functional overlap and regulatory mechanisms of chitinases.
Main Methods:
- Genome analysis of mycoparasitic Trichoderma species (T. atroviride, T. virens).
- Review of existing literature on fungal cell wall degrading enzymes.
- Analysis of gene expression profiles of chitinases.
Main Results:
- Chitinases are the largest carbohydrate-active enzyme family in mycoparasitic Trichoderma.
- Gene expression data suggest chitinases are involved in both mycoparasitism and self-cell wall processes.
- Similar enzyme sets are implicated in attacking other fungi and recycling the fungus's own cell wall.
Conclusions:
- The regulation of self vs. non-self cell wall degradation is likely not due to enzyme specialization.
- Substrate accessibility, influenced by cell wall protection and deprotection, is hypothesized to be the key regulatory factor.
- This regulation is critical during mycoparasitic attack, hyphal aging, and autolysis.
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