Gene expression analysis of carbohydrate catabolism in <i>Leucoagaricus gongylophorus</i> LEU18496

The fungal symbiont of leaf-cutter ant Atta mexicana, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus LEU18496 has the capability to produce enzymes such as cellulases, hemicellulases, and ligninases for plant biomass degradation. In this study, the fungus has been cultivated in submerged culture conditions using glucose and cellulose as carbon sources to explore gene expression level and unravel the molecular mechanisms responsible of enzyme production and carbohydrate catabolism. The transcriptomic analysis of L. gongylophorus LEU18496 using RNA-seq data, allowed the examination of the gene expression profiles across different carbon sources and growth phases. During the exponential growth phase on glucose there is a constitutive expression of several CAZymes, including β-glucosidase, pectinase, and endo-β-1,3-glucanase. The transcriptome data showed high expression of the creA repressor gene in the presence of glucose, underscoring its regulatory role in carbohydrate degradation and suggesting a regulatory mechanism governing CAZyme production and secretion when glucose is used as a carbon source. This study offers detailed insights into the pathways of cellulose and glucose catabolism, emphasizing the expression of key components involved in carbohydrate metabolism unravelling the metabolic strategies of L. gongylophorus providing information of the CAZymes and FOLymes production as high-value product suitable for biotechnological applications.