Differential transcription of β-glucosidase and cellobiose dehydrogenase genes in cellulose degradation by the basidiomycetePhanerochaete chrysosporium

Transcriptional analysis of β-glucosidase gene (bgl) and cellobiose dehydrogenase gene (cdh) in relation to cellobiose metabolism in the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium was performed using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Addition of glucose to cellulose-degrading culture significantly decreased the number of both transcripts. In contrast, addition of cellobiose repressed only transcription of bgl but no effect for that of cdh. Moreover, to investigate induction of the two genes, the mycelia grown on glucose medium were transferred to medium containing glucose, cellobiose or no carbon source. In cellobiose medium, the number of bgl transcripts was slightly lower, whereas that of cdh transcripts was 2.3-fold higher than those in glucose medium. Consequently, cellobiose represses transcription of bgl, whereas it induces that of cdh.