Chapter 10: Identification of Genetic Targets to Improve Lignocellulosic Hydrocarbon Production in Trichoderma reesei Using Public Genomic and Transcriptomic Datasets

Advanced biofuels have received increasing consideration due to their compatibility with current fuel infrastructure and high energy densities. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is a promising strategy for economic lignocellulosic biofuel production. Recently, National Renewable Energy Laboratory scientists proposed a novel concept to develop a model fungal cellulase producer Trichoderma reesei as the fungal CBP platform for economic lignocellulosic biofuel production. Although nearly all of the systems biology studies for T. reesei were focused on cellulase induction, and there is no systems biology study reported yet for T. reesei as a CBP candidate for biofuel production, these systems biology datasets still can help us understand the global transcriptional profiles of T. reesei in different environmental conditions. In this study, we used public genomic and transcriptomic datasets to help us reconstruct metabolic pathways of glycolysis/fermentation and terpenoid biosynthesis. Several potential genetic targets were proposed to help improve farnesene production in T. reesei. In addition, the transcriptional profiles of known regulators in T. reesei were investigated, and the possibility to identify promoters with different strength was discussed. Our study thus demonstrated the feasibility of harnessing public genomic and transcriptomic data to guide metabolic engineering practice.