Integrative visual omics of the white-rot fungus Polyporus brumalis exposes the biotechnological potential of its oxidative enzymes for delignifying raw plant biomass.

Abstract

White-rot fungi are wood decayers able to degrade all polymers from lignocellulosic biomass including cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. The white-rot fungus Polyporus brumalis efficiently breaks down lignin and is regarded as having a high potential for the initial treatment of plant biomass in its conversion to bio-energy. We performed integrative multi-omics analyses by combining data from the fungal genome, transcriptomes, and secretomes. We found the fungus possessed an unexpectedly large set of genes coding for enzymes related to lignin degradation, and that these were highly expressed and massively secreted under solid-state fermentation conditions. The examination of interrelated multi-omics patterns revealed the coordinated regulation of lignin-active peroxidases and H2O2-generating enzymes along with the activation of cellular mechanisms for detoxification, which combined to result in the efficient lignin breakdown by the fungus.\n\nImportancePlant biomass conversion for green chemistry and bio-energy is a current challenge for a modern sustainable bioeconomy. The complex polyaromatic lignin polymers in raw biomass feedstocks (i.e. agriculture and forestry by-products) are major obstacles for biomass conversions. From a biotechnological aspect, these compounds could be a potential source of aromatic platform molecules for bio-based polymers. Here we describe the extraordinary ability of Polyporus brumalis for lignin degradation using its enzymatic arsenal to break down wheat straw, a lignocellulosic substrate that is considered as a biomass feedstock worldwide. We observed unusual expansions of gene families coding for; 1) Class II peroxidases involved in lignin degradation; and 2) GMC oxidoreductases/dehydrogenases involved in generating the hydrogen peroxide required for lignin peroxidase activity. Our findings suggested the fungus massively mobilizes this oxidative machinery during growth on wheat straw. Overall, we identified sets of co-regulated enzymes, which could potentially augment the efficiency of biotechnological plant biomass conversions.