Structural and mechanistic analysis of engineered trichodiene synthase enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum: towards higher catalytic activities empowering sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. are well-known bioagents for the plant growth promotion and pathogen suppression. The beneficial activities of the fungus Trichoderma spp. are attributed to their ability to produce and secrete certain secondary metabolites such as trichodermin that belongs to trichothecene family of molecules. The initial steps of trichodermin biosynthetic pathway in Trichoderma are similar to the trichothecenes from Fusarium sporotrichioides. Trichodiene synthase (TS) encoded by tri5 gene in Trichoderma catalyses the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to trichodiene as reported earlier. In this study, we have carried out a comprehensive comparative sequence and structural analysis of the TS, which revealed the conserved residues involved in catalytic activity of the protein. In silico, modelled tertiary structure of TS protein showed stable structural behaviour during simulations. Two single-substitution mutants, i.e. D109E, D248Y and one double-substitution mutant (D109E and D248Y) of TS with potentially higher activities are screened out. The mutant proteins showed more stability than the wild type, an increased number of electrostatic interactions and better binding energies with the ligand, which further elucidates the amino acid residues involved in the reaction mechanism. These results will lead to devise strategies for higher TS activity to ultimately enhance the trichodermin production by Trichoderma spp. for its better exploitation in the sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords:

• trichodiene synthase
• Trichoderma harzianum
• biocontrol agent
• symbiosis
• enzyme engineering
• catalytic site mutants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgements

University Grant Commission, Govt. of India (UGC) is acknowledged for providing financial support in the form of stipends to IK, NC and PS. Research in MA laboratory is supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, DST, Govt. of India (SERB) and UGC. Research in YA laboratory is supported by extramural research funds from Indian Council of Medical Research, Govt. of India (ICMR), UGC and SERB.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the UGC, SERB and ICMR.