초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><I>Trichoderma reesei</I> Rut‐C30 is a well‐known cellulase producer, and improvement of its cellulase production is of great interest. An artificial zinc finger protein (AZFP) library is constructed for expression in <I>T. reesei</I> Rut‐C30, and a mutant strain <I>T. reesei</I> U3 is selected based on its enhanced cellulase production. The U3 mutant shows a 55% rise in filter paper activity and 8.1‐fold increased β‐glucosidase activity, when compared to the native strain <I>T. reesei</I> Rut‐C30. It is demonstrated that enhanced β‐glucosidase activity was due to elevated transcription level of β‐glucosidase gene in the U3 mutant. Moreover, significant elevation in transcription levels of several putative Azfp‐U3 target genes is detected in the U3 mutant, including genes encoding hypothetical transcription factors and a putative glycoside hydrolase. Furthermore, U3 cellulase shows 115% higher glucose yield from pretreated corn stover, when compared to the cellulase of <I>T. reesei</I> Rut‐C30. These results demonstrate that AZFP can be used to improve cellulase production in <I>T. reesei</I> Rut‐C30. Our current work offers the establishment of an alternative strategy to develop fungal cell factories for improved production of high value industrial products.</P>