Plasma Mediated Activation of Fungal Enzyme Secretion

Fungi produce and secrete various enzymes that are useful for foods and industry. In addition, fungi can be used as a factory producing genetically engineered proteins. Efficiency of expression and secretion of enzymes by fungi has been a technical bottleneck in biocatalyst industry. We have evaluated the potential of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in enhancing enzyme expression and secretion in filamentous fungi, <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> (fermenting fungus) and <i>Neurospora crassa</i> (bread mold). Our data demonstrate that plasma can enhance secretion of enzymes by fungi. Plasma generated reactive species in media seem to accelerate depolarization of spore and hyphal membrane. Level of intracellular Ca²⁺ and secretory vesicles is elevated after plasma treatment. A MAP kinase is phosphorylated and level of mRNA for spore germination associated genes is increased after plasma treatment. These results indicate that plasma can enhance enzyme secretion, probably affecting calcium signaling and cellular trafficking of secretory vesicles. Our work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2020R1F1A1070942, 2021R1A6A1A03038785).