Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Rational engineering of Talaromyces sp. to augment cellulase production |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Nidhi Adlakha, Regional Centre For Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | nadlakha6@gmail.com |
Equipments : | Microcentrifuge
Pipette set
shaker and incubator |
Details
Executive Summary : | Cellulase production in filamentous fungi is induced by cellulose, but macromolecular cellulose cannot enter cells. Membrane-bound constitutive cellulases act on insoluble cellulose and release saccharides, potentially inducing a cellulase production cascade. Cellobiose, lactose, maltose, and sophorose have been explored as inducers, but their rational scrutiny for cellulase production is lacking. A recent study identified natural cellulase inducers in the hypercellulolytic Talaromyces strain using a multi-omics approach. Cellobiose: Gentiobiose (2.5:1) showed a 300% increase in cellulase production. However, the molecular mechanism underlying inducer-mediated induction is still unknown. Preliminary experiments suggest membrane proteins sensing the natural cellulose-derived inducer and signaling cellulase secretion. Transcriptomic experiments reveal differentially upregulated genes/pathways/proteins in the presence of inducers. The current proposal aims to understand the inducer-mediated cellulase induction cascade using hypercellulolytic Talaromyces sp. as a model strain. Rational scrutiny of membrane proteins or transceptors will be performed using a transcriptomics and proteomics approach. Transceptors will be overexpressed to augment the signal perceived from natural inducers, boosting cellulase secretion and productivity. |
Total Budget (INR): | 55,83,859 |
Organizations involved