Enhanced Expression of Endochitinase in Trichoderma harzianum with the cbh1 Promoter of Trichoderma reesei.

Production of extracellular endochitinase could be increased 5-fold in the mycoparasite fungus Trichoderma harzianum by using the cellulase promoter cbh1 of Trichoderma reesei, whereas the total endochitinase activity increased 10-fold. The cbh1 promoter was not expressed on glucose and sucrose in T. harzianum and was induced by sophorose and on cellulase-inducing medium. The endogenous endochitinase gene was expressed at a low basal level on glucose and sucrose. No specific induction by crab shell chitin or sophorose was observed.