A Comparative Gene Expression Analysis to Investigate Mechanisms of Fungal Wood-Decay

Brown rot and white rot fungi have evolved distinct mechanisms to colonize wooden structures and overcome lignin as the barrier to access sugars. In contrast to white rot fungi, which degrade lignin as part of their wood decay strategy, brown rot fungi deconstruct cellulose and hemicelluloses in very efficient fashion by only modifying this polymer. Understanding the roots of brown rot biodegradation of wood has important biotechnological and environmental applications such the production of antifungal wood preservatives and biofuels, as well as the conservation of ecosystems. Despite the significance of this biological process, solving the genetic and biochemical basis controlling wood decay has proven to be a challenge. The spatial complexity of the wood biodegradation process is one the limiting factors that often hampers experimental approaches. To alleviate this gap in knowledge, this project maps and integrates gene expression over networks of wood degrading fungal hyphae in planta; thus, providing resolution at selected mycelial regions exhibiting different metabolic properties. A comparative transcriptomics approach including representative brown rot and white rot fungal species has been set up to infer differences in the fungal secretome. Such differences are expected to explain the metabolic advantages harnessed by brown rot fungi and the evolution of these organisms.