EvoFunPath Webinars Series - Ronald de Vries

Описание: Genomic and post-genomic diversity in fungal plant biomass utilization
Abstract: The rapidly increasing number of fungal genomes and post-genomic datasets has altered the way we do research dramatically and provided unprecedented insights into the diversity of fungi in topics. In our group a main focus of research is the utilization of plant biomass by fungi, covering all aspects of this process: extracellular degradation of plant biomass polymers, uptake of the resulting monomers and small oligomers, metabolic conversion of these compounds and the regulatory systems involved in this process. These studies have revealed differences in the approach fungi use for utilizing the same substrate at the genomic and post-genomic level, even between closely related species. Classifying these differences enables us to get a much better understanding of the evolution of plant biomass utilization in the fungal kingdom and the molecular basis of this process.
In addition, these insight provide near-unlimited opportunities for biotechnology by implementing a much larger part of this biodiversity into application with respect to enzyme discovery, design of fungal cell factories and the range of products that fungi can synthesize. However, none of this can be achieved without detailed understanding of gene function, expression and diversity, which often requires in-depth biochemical or genetic analysis.
In this talk I will address both the potential and limitations of our current (post-)genomic driven research on plant biomass utilization by fungi, illustrated by recent insights and results.