Genetic Regulation Networks in Cellulase and Hemicellulase Production in an Industrially Applied Cellulase Producer Trichoderma reesei

Abstract

Due to its natural lifestyle as a saprotroph, Trichoderma reesei is a potent producer of enzymes involved in the degradation of plant biomass, in particular cellulases and hemicellulases. As such, T. reesei has become a microorganism used in industry for the production of these enzymes. In this chapter, the so far known regulatory mechanisms that have an important impact on the expression of cellulases and hemicellulases in T. reesei are described. In this regard, classical gene regulation, for example, by carbon catabolite repression or transcriptional activation, and the respective transcription factors, such as Cre1, Xyr1, or Ace3, are summarized. Also, the reported epigenetic regulatory mechanisms ranging from DNA methylation to histone modification and chromatin accessibility to regulatory noncoding RNAs, such as HAX1, are discussed.