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Wang H, Ji Z, Feng Y, Yan T, Cao Y, Lu H, Jiang Y. Myriocin enhances the antifungal activity of fluconazole by blocking the membrane localization of the efflux pump Cdr1. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1101553. [PMID: 36618949 PMCID: PMC9815617 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1101553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Extrusion of azoles from the cell, mediated by an efflux pump Cdr1, is one of the most frequently used strategies for developing azole resistance in pathogenic fungi. The efflux pump Cdr1 is predominantly localized in lipid rafts within the plasma membrane, and its localization is sensitive to changes in the composition of lipid rafts. Our previous study found that the calcineurin signal pathway is important in transferring sphingolipids from the inner to the outer membrane. Methods: We investigated multiple factors that enhance the antifungal activity of fluconazole (FLC) using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and disk diffusion assays. We studied the mechanism of action of myriocin through qRT-PCR analysis and confocal microscopy analysis. We tested whether myriocin enhanced the antifungal activity of FLC and held therapeutic potential using a mouse infection model. Results: We found that this signal pathway has no function in the activity of Cdr1. We found that inhibiting sphingolipid biosynthesis by myriocin remarkably increased the antifungal activity of FLC with a broad antifungal spectrum and held therapeutic potential. We further found that myriocin potently enhances the antifungal activity of FLC against C. albicans by blocking membrane localization of the Cdr1 rather than repressing the expression of Cdr1. In addition, we found that myriocin enhanced the antifungal activity of FLC and held therapeutic potential. Discussion: Our study demonstrated that blocking the membrane location and inactivating Cdr1 by inhibiting sphingolipids biogenesis is beneficial for enhancing the antifungal activity of azoles against azole-resistant C. albicans due to Cdr1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkang Wang
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Ji
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanru Feng
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianhua Yan
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongbing Cao
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Yongbing Cao, ; Hui Lu, ; Yuanying Jiang,
| | - Hui Lu
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Yongbing Cao, ; Hui Lu, ; Yuanying Jiang,
| | - Yuanying Jiang
- Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Yongbing Cao, ; Hui Lu, ; Yuanying Jiang,
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Engineering a Cysteine-Deficient Functional Candida albicans Cdr1 Molecule Reveals a Conserved Region at the Cytosolic Apex of ABCG Transporters Important for Correct Folding and Trafficking of Cdr1. mSphere 2021; 6:6/1/e01318-20. [PMID: 33568458 PMCID: PMC8544900 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01318-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters of the ABCG family are eukaryotic membrane proteins that pump an array of compounds across organelle and cell membranes. Overexpression of the archetype fungal PDR transporter Cdr1 is a major cause of azole antifungal drug resistance in Candida albicans, a significant fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals. To date, no structure for any PDR transporter has been solved. The objective of this project was to investigate the role of the 23 Cdr1 cysteine residues in the stability, trafficking, and function of the protein when expressed in the eukaryotic model organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The biochemical characterization of 18 partially cysteine-deficient Cdr1 variants revealed that the six conserved extracellular cysteines were critical for proper expression, localization, and function of Cdr1. They are predicted to form three covalent disulfide bonds that stabilize the large extracellular domains of fungal PDR transporters. Our investigations also revealed a novel nucleotide-binding domain motif, GX2[3]CPX3NPAD/E, at the peripheral cytosolic apex of ABCG transporters that possibly contributes to the unique ABCG transport cycle. With this knowledge, we engineered an “almost cysteine-less,” yet fully functional, Cdr1 variant, Cdr1P-CID, that had all but the six extracellular cysteines replaced with serine, alanine, or isoleucine (C1106I of the new motif). It is now possible to perform cysteine-cross-linking studies that will enable more detailed biochemical investigations of fungal PDR transporters and confirm any future structure(s) solved for this important protein family. IMPORTANCE Overexpression of the fungal pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporter Cdr1 is a major cause of antifungal drug resistance in Candida albicans, a significant fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals. To date, no structure for any PDR ABC transporter has been solved. Cdr1 contains 23 cysteines; 10 are cytosolic and 13 are predicted to be in the transmembrane or the extracellular domains. The objective of this project was to create, and biochemically characterize, CDR1 mutants to reveal which cysteines are most important for Cdr1 stability, trafficking, and function. During this process we discovered a novel motif at the cytosolic apex of PDR transporters that ensures the structural and functional integrity of the ABCG transporter family. The creation of a functional Cys-deficient Cdr1 molecule opens new avenues for cysteine-cross-linking studies that will facilitate the detailed characterization of an important ABCG transporter family member.
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Stanchev LD, Marek M, Xian F, Klöhn M, Silvestro D, Dittmar G, López-Marqués RL, Günther Pomorski T. Functional Significance of Conserved Cysteines in the Extracellular Loops of the ATP Binding Cassette Transporter Pdr11p. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 7:jof7010002. [PMID: 33375075 PMCID: PMC7822014 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporter Pdr11p is expressed under anaerobic growth conditions at the plasma membrane of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where it facilitates the uptake of exogenous sterols. Members of the fungal PDR family contain six conserved cysteines in their extracellular loops (ECL). For the functional analysis of these cysteine residues in Pdr11p, we generated a series of single cysteine-to-serine mutants. All mutant proteins expressed well and displayed robust ATPase activity upon purification. Mass-spectrometry analysis identified two cysteine residues (C582 and C603) in ECL3 forming a disulfide bond. Further characterization by cell-based assays showed that all mutants are compromised in facilitating sterol uptake, protein stability, and trafficking to the plasma membrane. Our data highlight the fundamental importance of all six extracellular cysteine residues for the functional integrity of Pdr11p and provide new structural insights into the PDR family of transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyubomir Dimitrov Stanchev
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (L.D.S.); (M.K.)
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (M.M.); (D.S.); (R.L.L.-M.)
| | - Magdalena Marek
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (M.M.); (D.S.); (R.L.L.-M.)
| | - Feng Xian
- Proteomics of Cellular Signaling, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Rue Thomas Edison 1A-B, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg; (F.X.); (G.D.)
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (L.D.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Daniele Silvestro
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (M.M.); (D.S.); (R.L.L.-M.)
| | - Gunnar Dittmar
- Proteomics of Cellular Signaling, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Rue Thomas Edison 1A-B, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg; (F.X.); (G.D.)
| | - Rosa Laura López-Marqués
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (M.M.); (D.S.); (R.L.L.-M.)
| | - Thomas Günther Pomorski
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (L.D.S.); (M.K.)
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (M.M.); (D.S.); (R.L.L.-M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-234-322-4430
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Léger T, Garcia C, Ounissi M, Lelandais G, Camadro JM. The metacaspase (Mca1p) has a dual role in farnesol-induced apoptosis in Candida albicans. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 14:93-108. [PMID: 25348831 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.041210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulating the apoptotic response of Candida albicans may help in the control of this opportunistic pathogen. The metacaspase Mca1p has been described as a key protease for apoptosis in C. albicans but little is known about its cleavage specificity and substrates. We therefore initiated a series of studies to describe its function. We used a strain disrupted for the MCA1 gene (mca1Δ/Δ) and compared its proteome to that of a wild-type isogenic strain, in the presence and absence of a known inducer of apoptosis, the quorum-sensing molecule farnesol. Label-free and TMT labeling quantitative proteomic analyses showed that both mca1 disruption and farnesol treatment significantly affected the proteome of the cells. The combination of both conditions led to an unexpected biological response: the strong overexpression of proteins implicated in the general stress. We studied sites cleaved by Mca1p using native peptidomic techniques, and a bottom-up approach involving GluC endoprotease: there appeared to be a "K/R" substrate specificity in P1 and a "D/E" specificity in P2. We also found 77 potential substrates of Mca1p, 13 of which validated using the most stringent filters, implicated in protein folding, protein aggregate resolubilization, glycolysis, and a number of mitochondrial functions. An immunoblot assay confirmed the cleavage of Ssb1p, a member of the HSP70 family of heat-shock proteins, in conditions where the metacaspase is activated. These various results indicate that Mca1p is involved in a limited and specific proteolysis program triggered by apoptosis. One of the main functions of Mca1p appears to be the degradation of several major heat-shock proteins, thereby contributing to weakening cellular defenses and amplifying the cell death process. Finally, Mca1p appears to contribute significantly to the control of mitochondria biogenesis and degradation. Consequently, Mca1p may be a link between the extrinsic and the intrinsic programmed cell death pathways in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Léger
- From the ‡Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Camille Garcia
- From the ‡Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Marwa Ounissi
- From the ‡Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Gaëlle Lelandais
- §Mitochondria, Metals and Oxidative Stress group, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Camadro
- From the ‡Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France; §Mitochondria, Metals and Oxidative Stress group, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
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Prasad R, Rawal MK. Efflux pump proteins in antifungal resistance. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:202. [PMID: 25221515 PMCID: PMC4148622 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well-known that the enhanced expression of ATP binding cassette (ABC) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) proteins contribute to the development of tolerance to antifungals in yeasts. For example, the azole resistant clinical isolates of the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans show an overexpression of Cdr1p and/or CaMdr1p belonging to ABC and MFS superfamilies, respectively. Hence, azole resistant isolates display reduced accumulation of therapeutic drug due to its rapid extrusion and that facilitates its survival. Considering the importance of major antifungal transporters, the focus of recent research has been to understand the structure and function of these proteins to design inhibitors/modulators to block the pump protein activity so that the drug already in use could again sensitize resistant yeast cells. The review focuses on the structure and function of ABC and MFS transporters of Candida to highlight the recent advancement in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Prasad
- Membrane Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi, India
| | - Manpreet K Rawal
- Membrane Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi, India
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