Transcriptome insight into lignin utilization by Curvularia clavata and identification of regulators of laccase activity

We isolated a C. clavata strain J1 capable of utilizing lignosulfonate. Transcriptomic analysis of C. clavata strain J1 grown on glucose and lignosulfonate was performed. When grown on lignosulfonate, relatively high laccase activity was observed and the key laccase gene was identified. Three regulators of laccase activity were identified (LaeA, Rpn-4 and Tah-1) and the effect of their deletion on the gene expression profile was determined by RNA-Seq analysis.