Analysis of Light- and Carbon-Specific Transcriptomes Implicates a Class of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Cellulose Sensing

Abstract

In fungi, most metabolic processes are subject to regulation by light. For Trichoderma reesei , light-dependent regulation of cellulase gene expression is specifically shown. Therefore, we intended to unravel the relationship between regulation of enzymes by the carbon source and regulation of enzymes by light. Our two-dimensional analysis included inducing and repressing carbon sources which we used to compare light-specific regulation to dark-specific regulation and to rule out effects specific for a single carbon source. We found close connections with respect to gene regulation as well as significant differences in dealing with carbon in the environment in light and darkness. Moreover, our analyses showed an intricate regulation mechanism for substrate degradation potentially involving surface sensing and provide a basis for knowledge-based screening for strain improvement.