Structural insights into cellobiose dehydrogenases of a non-lignocellulolytic fungus and their transcriptional dynamics across different nutritional modes

This study provides the first characterization of the unusually enriched cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) gene family in <i>Clonostachys rosea</i>, a mycoparasitic fungus of interest for biological control. We found class-specific structural differences between multiple CDHs belonging to distinct phylogenetic classes. Transcriptome profiling demonstrates their differential activation during host sensing, mycoparasitism, and plant root colonization, suggesting novel ecological roles beyond classical lignocellulose degradation. These findings establish a pioneering framework for understanding CDH diversification and its contribution to different fungal lifestyles.