Identification of Novel Transcription Factors Involved in Regulating the Production of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes in Myceliophthora thermophila
type: CreativeWork
description: Fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas are non-renewable energy resources that are increasingly depleted due to heavy exploitation driven by global population and industrialisation. Their combustion also contributes to global warming and environmental pollution, posing significant threats to human health and the environment. Therefore, the exploitation of renewable and environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel is urgently required. Lignocellulosic biomass, the most abundant renewable resource on Earth, can be converted into biochemicals such as glycolic acid, xylitol, xylonic acid, and xylo-oligosaccharides, and into fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels, making it a potential substitute for fossil fuels. The thermophilic filamentous fungus Myceliophthora thermophila secretes large amounts of thermostable lignocellulolytic enzymes, including cellulases and xylanases, which enable efficient degradation of lignocellulose. However, the native production levels of these enzymes in this fungus are generally lower than those of mesophilic fungi such as Trichoderma and Aspergillus species. Lignocellulose degradation in filamentous fungi is regulated by a complex transcriptional network involving various transcriptional activators and repressors. To date, only a limited number of transcription factors have been identified in M. thermophila that regulate cellulase and xylanase biosynthesis, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, impeding rational strain engineering. The aim of this thesis was to identify and characterise transcription factors involved in cellulase and xylanase regulation in M. thermophila and to elucidate their molecular mechanisms. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of M. thermophila grown in Avicel and glucose was firstly performed to identify candidate transcription factors. To facilitate functional studies, a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing tool and a constitutive promoter (Ppdc)-driven overexpression system w…
abstract: Fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas are non-renewable energy resources that are increasingly depleted due to heavy exploitation driven by global population and industrialisation. Their combustion also contributes to global warming and environmental pollution, posing significant threats to human health and the environment. Therefore, the exploitation of renewable and environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel is urgently required. Lignocellulosic biomass, the most abundant renewable resource on Earth, can be converted into biochemicals such as glycolic acid, xylitol, xylonic acid, and xylo-oligosaccharides, and into fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels, making it a potential substitute for fossil fuels. The thermophilic filamentous fungus Myceliophthora thermophila secretes large amounts of thermostable lignocellulolytic enzymes, including cellulases and xylanases, which enable efficient degradation of lignocellulose. However, the native production levels of these enzymes in this fungus are generally lower than those of mesophilic fungi such as Trichoderma and Aspergillus species. Lignocellulose degradation in filamentous fungi is regulated by a complex transcriptional network involving various transcriptional activators and repressors. To date, only a limited number of transcription factors have been identified in M. thermophila that regulate cellulase and xylanase biosynthesis, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, impeding rational strain engineering. The aim of this thesis was to identify and characterise transcription factors involved in cellulase and xylanase regulation in M. thermophila and to elucidate their molecular mechanisms. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of M. thermophila grown in Avicel and glucose was firstly performed to identify candidate transcription factors. To facilitate functional studies, a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing tool and a constitutive promoter (Ppdc)-driven overexpression system w…
author: Lai, Yapeng
keywords: Myceliophthora thermophila, cellulase, xylanase, gene expression, transcription factor, MtFKH1, MtHAC-1, MtCLR-2, CRISPR/Cas9, comparative transcriptomic analysis
date published: 2026
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:46:13Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University