Cloning and characterization of bgn16.3, coding for a β-1,6-glucanase expressed during Trichoderma harzianum mycoparasitism

Aims: To clone and characterize the gene coding for BGN16.3, a beta-1,6-glucanase putatively implicated in mycoparasitism by Trichoderma harzianum, a biocontrol agent used against plant pathogenic fungi. Methods and Results: Using degenerate primed PCR and cDNA library screening, we have cloned the cDNA coding BGN16.3. bgn16.3 showed a significant sequence identity (50%) to bgn16.1; however, they both have low identity to the previously cloned bgn16.2, allowing the identification of amino acid sequences putatively involved in the common catalytic activity of the three proteins. bgn16.3 is a single-copy gene and highly homologous sequences are present in all tested Trichoderma species. bgn16.3 expression pattern is analysed by Northern blot, finding that it is expressed during the interaction of T. harzianum CECT 2413 with Botrytis cinerea, supporting the implication of the enzyme in the mycoparasitic process. Conclusions: The cloned bgn16.3 completes the knowledge on the beta-1,6-glucanase isozyme system from T. harzianum CECT 2413. A highly homologous gene is present in all analysed Trichoderma strains. bgn16.3 is expressed under few specific conditions, including the mycoparasitic process. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study contributes to the knowledge of beta-1,6-glucanases. It implicates this group of enzymes in the mycoparasitism by some biocontrol agents such as T. harzianum.