Biology subjects

Larsbrink, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Larsbrink, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Regulation of lactose and galactose growth: Insights from a unique metabolic gene cluster in Candida intermedia

Lactose assimilation is a relatively rare trait in yeasts, and Kluyveromyces yeast species have long served as model organisms for studying lactose metabolism. Meanwhile, the metabolic strategies of most other lactose-assimilating yeasts remain unknown. In this work, we have elucidated the genetic determinants of the superior lactose-growing yeast Candida intermedia. Through genomic and transcriptomic analyses and deletion mutant phenotyping, we identified three interdependent gene clusters responsible for the metabolism of lactose and its hydrolysis product galactose: the conserved LAC cluster (LAC12, LAC4) for lactose uptake and hydrolysis, the conserved GAL cluster (GAL1, GAL7, GAL10) for galactose catabolism, and a unique "GALLAC" cluster. This novel GALLAC cluster, which has evolved through gene duplication and divergence, proved indispensable for C. intermedias growth on lactose and galactose. The cluster contains the transcriptional activator gene LAC9, second copies of GAL1 and GAL10 and the XYL1 gene encoding an aldose reductase involved in carbon overflow metabolism. Notably, the regulatory network in C. intermedia, governed by Lac9 and Gal1 from the GALLAC cluster, differs significantly from the (ga)lactose regulons in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis and Candida albicans. Moreover, although lactose and galactose metabolism are closely linked in C. intermedia, our results also point to important regulatory differences. This study paves the way to a better understanding of lactose and galactose metabolism in C. intermedia and provides new evolutionary insights into yeast metabolic pathways and regulatory networks. In extension, the results will facilitate future development and use of C. intermedia as a cell-factory for conversion of lactose-rich whey into value-added products.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Resin acids play key roles in shaping microbial communities during degradation of spruce bark

The bark is the outermost defense of trees against microbial attack, largely thanks to toxicity and prevalence of extractive compounds. Nevertheless, bark decomposes in nature, though by which species and mechanisms remains unknown. Here, we have followed the development of microbial enrichments growing on spruce bark over six months, by monitoring both chemical changes in the material and performing community and metagenomic analyses. Carbohydrate metabolism was unexpectedly limited, and instead a key activity was metabolism of extractives. Resin acid degradation was principally linked to community diversification with specific bacteria revealed to dominate the process. Metagenome-guided isolation facilitated the recovery of the dominant enrichment strain in pure culture, which represents a new species (Pseudomonas abieticivorans sp. nov.), that can grow on resin acids as a sole carbon source. Our results illuminate key stages in degradation of an abundant renewable resource, and how defensive extractive compounds have major roles in shaping microbiomes.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Yeasts have evolved divergent enzyme strategies to deconstruct and metabolize xylan

Together with bacteria and fungi, yeasts actively take part in the global carbon cycle. Over a hundred yeast species have been shown to grow on the major plant polysaccharide xylan, which requires an arsenal of carbohydrate active enzymes. However, which enzymatic strategies yeasts use to deconstruct xylan and what specific biological roles they play in its conversion remain unclear. In fact, genome analyses reveal that many xylan-metabolizing yeasts lack expected xylanolytic enzymes. Guided by bioinformatics, we have here selected three xylan-metabolizing ascomycetous yeasts for in-depth characterization of growth behavior and xylanolytic enzymes. The savanna soil yeast Blastobotrys mokoenaii displays superior growth on xylan thanks to an efficient secreted glycoside hydrolase family 11 (GH11) xylanase; solving its crystal structure revealed a high similarity to xylanases from filamentous fungi. The termite gut-associated Scheffersomyces lignosus in contrast grows more slowly and its xylanase activity was found to be mainly cell surface-associated. The wood-isolated Wickerhamomyces canadensis surprisingly could not utilize xylan as the sole carbon source without adding xylooligosaccharides, exogenous xylanases or even by co-culturing with B. mokoenaii, suggesting that W. canadensis relies on initial xylan hydrolysis by neighboring cells. Furthermore, our characterization of a novel W. canadensis GH5 subfamily 49 (GH5_49) xylanase represents the first demonstrated activity in this subfamily. Our collective results provide new information on the variable xylanolytic systems evolved by yeasts and their potential roles in natural carbohydrate conversion. ImportanceMicrobes that take part in the degradation of the polysaccharide xylan, the major hemicellulose component in plant biomass, are equipped with specialized enzyme machineries to hydrolyze the polymer into monosaccharides for further metabolism. However, despite being found in virtually every habitat, little is known of how yeasts break down and metabolize xylan and what biological role they may play in its turnover in nature. Here, we have explored the enzymatic xylan deconstruction strategies of three underexplored yeasts from diverse environments: Blastobotrys mokoenaii from soil, Scheffersomyces lignosus from insect guts and Wickerhamomyces canadensis from trees, and show that each species has a distinct behavior regarding xylan conversion. These findings may be of high relevance for future design and development of microbial cell factories and biorefineries utilizing renewable plant biomass.

microbiology↗