Genome shuffling improves production of cellulase by Penicillium decumbens JU-A10.

AIMS

Improvement of cellulase production of Penicillium decumbens by genome shuffling of an industrial catabolite-repression-resistant strain JU-A10 with its mutants.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After two rounds of genome shuffling, three fusants, GS2-15, GS2-21 and GS2-22, were obtained, showing 100%, 109% and 94% increase in FPase activity than JU-A10 respectively. The cellulase production of the fusants on various substrates, such as corn stover, wheat straw, bagasse and the corncob residue, was studied. The maximum productivities of GS2-15, GS2-21 and GS2-22 were 92.15, 102.63 and 92.35 FPU l(-1) h(-1) on the corncob residue at 44 h respectively, which were 117%, 142% and 118% higher than that of JU-A10 (42.44 FPU l(-1) h(-1), at 90 h). The improvements of the fusants were possibly because of their enhanced growth rates, earlier cellulase synthesis and higher secretion of extracellular proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

The fusants obtained after genome shuffling could produce abundant cellulase much earlier, and they could be potential candidates for bioconversion process.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report on the improvement of cellulase production in fungi by genome shuffling, and this is a good technique to improve other important phenotypes in fungi.