Understanding detection and colonisation of lignocellulose by anaerobe fungi to improve agricultural waste valorisation

了解厌氧真菌对木质纤维素的检测和定植，以提高农业废物的价值

• 批准号: 2755148
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Edinburgh
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2755148
• 关键词: Understanding; detection; colonisation; lignocellulose; anaerobe

The use of lignocellulose as renewable resource for production of biofuels and biomaterials is increasingly important and sustainable processing techniques are therefore essential. Anaerobe fungi colonise lignocellulose during ruminant digestion; motile zoospores detect plant material, attach, germinate and grow. Species differ in their responses to lignocellulose recognition and while carbohydrate recognition and uptake is expected to be critical, eg in zoospore chemotaxis, it is unknown how most anaerobe fungi initiate lignocellulose colonisation. This project aims to generate understanding of carbohydrate recognition and uptake that drive initial colonisation of plant biomass by anaerobe fungi. This knowledge will be exploited to create combinations of fungi and lignocellulose with increased potential in selective lignocellulose pre-treatments for bioprocessing. Key objectives are to 1) Dissect how carbohydrate recognition and uptake drive initial colonisation of plant biomass by a panel of fungal species, and assess variation in mechanisms. Uptake of radio-labelled carbohydrates by zoospores during colonisation will be assessed and compared to their ability to induce chemotaxis, germination, and sustain growth. 2) Explore variability in how inducers affect enzymatic activities generated by the fungi during degradation of plant biomass.Selecting species with distinct carbohydrate recognition profiles, effect of inducers on enzyme production is assessed via proteomics and transcriptomics and enzyme activity assays. 3) Exploit gained knowledge to optimise fast and selective pre-treatment of renewable lignocellulose resources.The concept will be tested that gained insights can be used to match fungal degradative capacity to bioprocessing requirements. Trials for biomaterials applications focus on generation of xylan-rich fractions from wheat-derived materials important as renewable feedstock to the UK. Together this delivers insight in how carbohydrate recognition affects fungal colonisation of plant biomass, and provides data underpinning development of fungal pre-treatments in renewables-based technology. This project builds on experience in fungal biology1, enzymology and bioprocessing at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), and expertise lignocellulose biochemistry, including carbohydrate-radiolabelling2, at University of Edinburgh (UoE). The student benefits from training across these disciplines.The student will be registered at UoE, based at SRUC in Edinburgh, and work closely with Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences at this campus. The student will have the opportunity to use bioprocess facilities at SRUC Barony Campus. The supervisory team is committed, and expects active contribution of the student, to an inclusive work environment and professional development of all research team members.

使用木质纤维素作为可再生资源来生产生物燃料和生物材料变得越来越重要，因此可持续的加工技术至关重要。厌氧真菌在反刍动物消化过程中定植于木质纤维素中；活动的游动孢子检测植物材料、附着、发芽和生长。物种对木质纤维素识别的反应不同，虽然碳水化合物的识别和摄取预计是至关重要的，例如在游动孢子趋化性中，但目前尚不清楚大多数厌氧真菌如何启动木质纤维素定殖。该项目旨在加深对碳水化合物识别和吸收的了解，从而推动厌氧真菌对植物生物质的初始定植。这些知识将被用来创造真菌和木质纤维素的组合，在生物加工的选择性木质纤维素预处理方面具有更大的潜力。主要目标是 1) 剖析碳水化合物识别和吸收如何驱动一组真菌物种对植物生物质的初始定殖，并评估机制的变化。将评估游动孢子在定植过程中对放射性标记碳水化合物的吸收，并与其诱导趋化性、发芽和维持生长的能力进行比较。 2) 探索诱导剂如何影响植物生物质降解过程中真菌产生的酶活性的变化。选择具有不同碳水化合物识别谱的物种，通过蛋白质组学、转录组学和酶活性测定评估诱导剂对酶产生的影响。 3）利用所获得的知识来优化可再生木质纤维素资源的快速和选择性预处理。将测试该概念，以确保所获得的见解可用于将真菌降解能力与生物加工要求相匹配。生物材料应用试验的重点是从小麦衍生材料中生产富含木聚糖的部分，这些材料对英国来说是重要的可再生原料。总之，这提供了关于碳水化合物识别如何影响植物生物质的真菌定植的见解，并提供了支持基于可再生能源的技术中真菌预处理的开发的数据。该项目建立在苏格兰乡村学院 (SRUC) 的真菌生物学1、酶学和生物加工方面的经验以及爱丁堡大学 (UoE) 的木质纤维素生物化学专业知识（包括碳水化合物放射性标记2）的基础上。学生将受益于跨这些学科的培训。学生将在爱丁堡 SRUC 的 UoE 注册，并与该校区的分子植物科学研究所密切合作。学生将有机会使用 SRUC Barony 校区的生物加工设施。指导团队致力于并期望学生为所有研究团队成员的包容性工作环境和专业发展做出积极贡献。