Identification and functional study of NRPS1 in Trichoderma hypoxylon

Abstract:

[Objective] Trichoderma is a genus of common filamentous fungi used for biological control, by producing a variety of secondary metabolites that play an important role in biological control. In this study, a putative nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) NRPS1 was identified in Trichoderma hypoxylon by genome mining approach and the function of this gene's function was studied by using NRPS1 mutant against the pathogens. [Methods] Bioinformatics analysis reveals a putative NRPS containing biosynthetic gene cluster that is potential for the biosynthesis of peptaibol. The deletion cassette containing the hygromycin resistance gene was constructed by Quick-change method. The partial gene was deleted by using PEG mediated transformation in T. hypoxylon. NRPS1's function was identified by the biological activity assay against pathogenic fungi. [Results] We identified a putative peptaibol synthesis gene NRPS1 and obtained three deletion mutants. Deletion of NRPS1 significantly decreased the ability to resistance the pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Verticillium alboatrum. [Conclusion] NRPS1 is a potential peptaibol synthesis gene in T. hypoxylon and plays important roles in the resistance to pathogenic fungi. This work lays the foundation for the elucidation of peptaibol biosynthesis and its application for the biological control in agriculture.