How an essential Zn2Cys6 transcription factor PoxCxrA regulates cellulase gene expression in ascomycete fungi?

BACKGROUND: Soil ascomycete fungi produce plant-biomass-degrading enzymes to facilitate nutrient and energy uptake in response to exogenous stress. This is controlled by a complex signal network, but the regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. An essential Zn2Cys6 transcription factor (TF) PoxCxrA was identified to be required for cellulase and xylanase production in Penicillium oxalicum. The genome-wide regulon and DNA binding sequences of PoxCxrA were further identified through RNA-Sequencing, DNase I footprinting experiments and in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Moreover, a minimal DNA-binding domain in PoxCxrA was recognised. RESULTS: A PoxCxrA regulon of 1970 members was identified in P. oxalicum, and it was displayed that PoxCxrA regulated the expression of genes encoding major plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, as well as important cellodextrin and/or glucose transporters. Interestingly, PoxCxrA positively regulated the expression of a known important TF PoxClrB. DNase I footprinting experiments and in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays further revealed that PoxCxrA directly bound the promoter regions of PoxClrB and a cellobiohydrolase gene cbh1 (POX05587/Cel7A-2) at different nucleic acid sequences. Remarkably, PoxCxrA autoregulated its own PoxCxrA gene expression. Additionally, a minimal 42-amino-acid PoxCxrA DNA-binding domain was identified. CONCLUSION: PoxCxrA could directly regulate the expression of cellulase genes and the regulatory gene PoxClrB via binding their promoters at different nucleic acid sequences. This work expands the diversity of DNA-binding motifs known to be recognised by Zn2Cys6 TFs, and demonstrates novel regulatory mechanisms of fungal cellulase gene expression. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13068-019-1444-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.