biostudies-literatureYao CYouth Interdisciplinary Science and Innovative Research Groups of Shandong UniversityNational Key R&amp;D Program of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinathe National Natural Science Foundation of China74https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9862206biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)<i>Trichoderma reesei</i> is a powerful fungal cell factory for the production of cellulolytic enzymes due to its outstanding protein secretion capacity. Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) plays an integral role in protein secretion that responds to secretion pressure and removes misfolded proteins. However, the role of ERAD in fungal growth and endogenous protein secretion, particularly cellulase secretion, remains poorly understood in <i>T. reesei</i>. Here, we investigated the ability of <i>T. reesei</i> to grow under different stresses and to secrete cellulases by disrupting three major genes (<i>hrd1</i>, <i>hrd3</i> and <i>der1</i>) involved in the critical parts of the ERAD pathway. Under the ER stress induced by high concentrations of DTT, knockout of <i>hrd1</i>, Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)The ERAD Pathway Participates in Fungal Growth and Cellulase Secretion in <i>Trichoderma reesei</i>.PMC9862206No. 319700702018YFA09005002021YFC2101300319700702020QNQT006Yan MLiu HLi XZhang JYao CGao WZhong YLi KfalseThe ERAD Pathway Participates in Fungal Growth and Cellulase Secretion in <i>Trichoderma reesei</i>.<i>Trichoderma reesei</i> is a powerful fungal cell factory for the production of cellulolytic enzymes due to its outstanding protein secretion capacity. Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) plays an integral role in protein secretion that responds to secretion pressure and removes misfolded proteins. However, the role of ERAD in fungal growth and endogenous protein secretion, particularly cellulase secretion, remains poorly understood in <i>T. reesei</i>. Here, we investigated the ability of <i>T. reesei</i> to grow under different stresses and to secrete cellulases by disrupting three major genes (<i>hrd1</i>, <i>hrd3</i> and <i>der1</i>) involved in the critical parts of the ERAD pathway. Under the ER stress induced by high concentrations of DTT, knockout of <i>hrd1</i>, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-08-23T03:04:46.949Z2025-08-23T03:04:46.949ZS-EPMC98622063667589510.3390/jof9010074