Profiling of the β-glucosidases identified in the genome of Penicillium funiculosum: Insights from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and homology modelling studies

Enzymatic lignocellulosic biomass conversion to bioethanol is dependent on efficient enzyme systems with {beta}-glucosidase as a key component. In this study, we performed in-depth profiling of the various {beta}-glucosidases present in the genome of the hypercellulolytic fungus; Penicillium funiculosum using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. Of the eight {beta}-glucosidase genes identified in the P. funiculosum genome, three were found to be extracellular, as evidenced by presence of signal peptides and mass spectrometry. Among the three secreted {beta}-glucosidase, two belonged to the GH3 and one belonged to GH1 families. Modelled structures of these proteins predicted a deep and narrow active site for the GH3 {beta}-glucosidases (PfBgl3A and PfBgl3B) and a shallow open active site for the GH1 {beta}-glucosidase (PfBgl1A). The enzymatic assays indicated that P. funiculosum secretome showed high {beta}-glucosidase activities with prominent bands on 4-methylumbelliferyl {beta}-D-glucopyranoside (MUG) zymogram. To understand the contributory effect of each of the three secreted {beta}-glucosidases (PfBgls), the corresponding gene was deleted separately and the effect of the deletion on {beta}-glucosidase activity of the secretome was examined. Although not the most abundant {beta}-glucosidase, PfBgl3A was found to be the most significant one as evidenced by a 42 % reduction in {beta}-glucosidase activity in the {Delta}PfBgl3A strain. To improve the thermostability, two mutants of PfBgl3A were designed with the help of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and were expressed in Pichia pastoris for evaluation. The PfBgl3A mutant (Mutant A) gave 1.4 fold increase in the half-life (T1/2) of the enzyme at 50{degrees}C. IMPORTANCECommercially available cellulases are majorly produced from Trichoderma reesei. However, external supplementation of the cellulase cocktail from this host with exogenous {beta}-glucosidase is often required to achieve desired optimal saccharification of cellulosic feedstocks. This challenge has led to exploration of other cellulase-producing strains because of the importance of this class of enzymes in the cellulose deconstruction machinery. The non-model hypercellulolytic fungus Penicillium funiculosum has been studied in recent times and identified as a promising source of industrial cellulases. Various genetic interventions targeted at strain improvement for cellulase production have been performed. However, the {beta}-glucosidases of this strain have remained largely understudied. This study, therefore, reports profiling of all the eight {beta}-glucosidases of P. funiculosum via molecular and computational approaches and enhancing thermostability of the most promising {beta}-glucosidase via protein engineering. The results of this study set the background for future engineering strategies to transform the fungus into an industrial workhorse.