A Look at the Efficiency of Laetisaria arvalis in Degrading Cellulose for Biofuel Production

Filamentous fungi are the most common natural sources of enzymes acting on lignocellulose. Hence, the team of Jean-Guy Berrin, from Biotechnologie des Champignons Filamenteux studied the extraordinary cellulose-deconstructing capability of the fungus Laetisaria arvalis.

L. arvalis displayed its ability to grow on wheat straw as its sole carbon source. The cellulolytic activity exhibited by L. arvalis was 7.5 times higher than the industrial strain Trichoderma reesei, resulting in an increase in glucose release. Further analysis revealed that L. arvalis produces a unique cocktail of enzymes including a complete set of enzymes acting on cellulose. The degradation efficiency of L. arvalis relies on its early response to carbon sources as well as on the sequential secretion of several enzymes targeting cellulose.

The cellulolytic capabilities of this basidiomycete fungus result from the rapid, selective and successive secretion of oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes. These enzymes expressed at critical times during biomass degradation may inspire the design of improved enzyme cocktails.