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Cell walls of filamentous fungi – challenges and opportunities for biotechnology

Summary

Filamentous fungi like Aspergillus and Trichoderma are workhorses of the biotechnology industry, producing enzymes and pharmaceuticals worth billions annually. The cell wall surrounding these fungal cells acts as both a barrier and a filter, affecting how well proteins can be secreted into the fermentation medium. By genetically modifying cell wall components, scientists can improve enzyme production efficiency. Additionally, the billions of tons of fungal biomass left over from fermentation contain valuable chitin and chitosan that could be extracted and reused, creating a more sustainable manufacturing process.

Background

Filamentous fungi are extensively used in industrial biotechnology for producing enzymes, organic acids, and bioactive compounds through precision fermentation. The fungal cell wall, composed of chitin, glucans, and glycoproteins, is essential for growth and development but presents challenges for product secretion and recovery. Understanding cell wall structure and composition is critical for optimizing biotechnological applications and valorizing fungal biomass.

Objective

This review addresses the importance of fungal cell walls in biotechnology, focusing on industrially relevant filamentous fungal species. The objectives are to describe cell wall composition and architecture, summarize biosynthesis and remodeling pathways, analyze the impact of cell walls on protein secretion and productivity, and explore opportunities for extracting and utilizing biopolymers like chitin and chitosan from fungal biomass.

Results

The review reveals that fungal cell walls exhibit tremendous variability between and within species, with complex multilayered architectures that are more sophisticated than previously assumed. Cell wall mutants show promising potential for improving industrial enzyme secretion by altering morphology and permeability. Estimated annual fermentation volumes exceed 67 million cubic meters, generating 3-9 million tons of fungal biomass annually, presenting significant opportunities for biopolymer extraction and circular bioeconomy applications.

Conclusion

Understanding fungal cell wall structure and dynamics is essential for optimizing industrial fermentation processes and improving enzyme productivity. Cell wall engineering through genetic modifications offers promising avenues for enhanced protein secretion, while the recovery of chitin and chitosan from spent fungal biomass represents an underexplored opportunity for sustainable bioeconomy development. Further research is needed to elucidate causal relationships between cell wall composition, morphology, and productivity.
  • Published in:Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.1007/s00253-025-13512-3, PMID: 40411627
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