The conserved LaeA methyltransferase affects expression of multiple secondary metabolite gene
clusters and the formation of specialized cells for reproduction in several fungi. LaeA presumably acts
through histone modification, but several aspects of its molecular action are so far not understood.
This includes an automethylation function and a plethora of interacting partners. Aspergillus LaeA
forms a complex with Velvet domain proteins as VeA/VEL1. The Trichoderma counterparts LAE1 and
VEL1 exhibit additional cellular functions by controlling mycoparasitism and the formation of
cellulases through the regulator XYR1. This supports that the phylogenetically conserved Aspergillus
LaeA and its counterpart Trichoderma LAE1 exhibit distinct differences in their target genes. The
proposed project focuses (i) on a comprehensive identification and comparison of the interacting
partners of both orthologues. A special focus will be (ii) on the relationship between the LAE1/VEL1
Velvet complex and the XYR1 transcription factor for cellulase genes, (iii) the role of LaeA/Lae1
automethylation and (iv) the molecular interaction between LaeA/LAE1 and acetyltransferases. The
aim of the project is to generate important insights in the molecular mechanism of LaeA and LAE1 to
improve recombinant fungal strain construction for the production of industrial secondary
metabolite or lignocellulose hydrolytic enzymes.