Kinase POGSK-3β modulates fungal plant polysaccharide-degrading enzyme production and development

The filamentous fungus Penicillium oxalicum secretes integrative plant polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (PPDEs) applicable to biotechnology. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) mediates various cellular processes in eukaryotic cells, but the regulatory mechanisms of PPDE biosynthesis in filamentous fungi remain poorly understood. In this study, POGSK-3β (POX_c04478), a homolog of GSK-3β in P. oxalicum, was characterised using biochemical, microbiological and omics approaches. Knockdown of POGSK-3β in P. oxalicum using a copper-responsive promoter replacement system led to 53.5 - 63.6%, 79.0 - 92.8% and 76.8 - 94.7% decreases in the production of filter paper cellulase, soluble starch-degrading enzyme and raw starch-degrading enzyme, respectively, compared with the parental strain ΔKu70. POGSK-3β promoted mycelial growth and conidiation. Transcriptomic profiling and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR analyses revealed that POGSK-3β dynamically regulated the expression of genes encoding major PPDEs, as well as fungal development-associated genes. The results broadened our understanding of the regulatory functions of GKS-3β and provided a promising target for genetic engineering to improve PPDE production in filamentous fungi. KEY POINTS: • The roles of glycogen synthase kinase-3β were investigated in P. oxalicum. • POGSK-3β regulated PPDE production, mycelial growth and conidiation. • POGSK-3β controlled the expression of major PPDE genes and regulatory genes.