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Mao X, Li L, Abubakar YS, Li Y, Luo Z, Chen M, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zheng H. Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase FgNdpk Is Required for DON Production and Pathogenicity by Regulating the Growth and Toxisome Formation of Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:9637-9646. [PMID: 38642053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are nucleotide metabolism enzymes that play different physiological functions in different species. However, the roles of NDPK in phytopathogen and mycotoxin production are not well understood. In this study, we showed that Fusarium graminearum FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual development, and pathogenicity. Furthermore, FgNdpk is required for deoxynivalenol (DON) production; deletion of FgNDPK downregulates the expression of DON biosynthesis genes and disrupts the formation of FgTri4-GFP-labeled toxisomes, while overexpression of FgNDPK significantly increases DON production. Interestingly, FgNdpk colocalizes with the DON biosynthesis proteins FgTri1 and FgTri4 in the toxisome, and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays show that FgNdpk associates with FgTri1 and FgTri4 in vivo and regulates their localizations and expressions, respectively. Taken together, these data demonstrate that FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity and acts as a key protein that regulates toxisome formation and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhao Mao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lingping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810281, Nigeria
| | - Yulong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zenghong Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Meilian Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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2
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Chen H, King R, Smith D, Bayon C, Ashfield T, Torriani S, Kanyuka K, Hammond-Kosack K, Bieri S, Rudd J. Combined pangenomics and transcriptomics reveals core and redundant virulence processes in a rapidly evolving fungal plant pathogen. BMC Biol 2023; 21:24. [PMID: 36747219 PMCID: PMC9903594 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01520-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying genomic variation in rapidly evolving pathogens potentially enables identification of genes supporting their "core biology", being present, functional and expressed by all strains or "flexible biology", varying between strains. Genes supporting flexible biology may be considered to be "accessory", whilst the "core" gene set is likely to be important for common features of a pathogen species biology, including virulence on all host genotypes. The wheat-pathogenic fungus Zymoseptoria tritici represents one of the most rapidly evolving threats to global food security and was the focus of this study. RESULTS We constructed a pangenome of 18 European field isolates, with 12 also subjected to RNAseq transcription profiling during infection. Combining this data, we predicted a "core" gene set comprising 9807 sequences which were (1) present in all isolates, (2) lacking inactivating polymorphisms and (3) expressed by all isolates. A large accessory genome, consisting of 45% of the total genes, was also defined. We classified genetic and genomic polymorphism at both chromosomal and individual gene scales. Proteins required for essential functions including virulence had lower-than average sequence variability amongst core genes. Both core and accessory genomes encoded many small, secreted candidate effector proteins that likely interact with plant immunity. Viral vector-mediated transient in planta overexpression of 88 candidates failed to identify any which induced leaf necrosis characteristic of disease. However, functional complementation of a non-pathogenic deletion mutant lacking five core genes demonstrated that full virulence was restored by re-introduction of the single gene exhibiting least sequence polymorphism and highest expression. CONCLUSIONS These data support the combined use of pangenomics and transcriptomics for defining genes which represent core, and potentially exploitable, weaknesses in rapidly evolving pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Chen
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XPresent address: School of Agriculture, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Robert King
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK
| | - Dan Smith
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK
| | - Carlos Bayon
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK
| | - Tom Ashfield
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK ,grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Crop Health and Protection (CHaP), Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK
| | - Stefano Torriani
- grid.420222.40000 0001 0669 0426Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Kostya Kanyuka
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK ,grid.17595.3f0000 0004 0383 6532Present address: National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB), 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kim Hammond-Kosack
- grid.418374.d0000 0001 2227 9389Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK
| | - Stephane Bieri
- grid.420222.40000 0001 0669 0426Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 101, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
| | - Jason Rudd
- Department of Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, UK.
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Ancuceanu R, Hovaneț MV, Cojocaru-Toma M, Anghel AI, Dinu M. Potential Antifungal Targets for Aspergillus sp. from the Calcineurin and Heat Shock Protein Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012543. [PMID: 36293395 PMCID: PMC9603945 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus species, especially A. fumigatus, and to a lesser extent others (A. flavus, A. niger, A. terreus), although rarely pathogenic to healthy humans, can be very aggressive to immunocompromised patients (they are opportunistic pathogens). Although survival rates for such infections have improved in recent decades following the introduction of azole derivatives, they remain a clinical challenge. The fact that current antifungals act as fungistatic rather than fungicide, that they have limited safety, and that resistance is becoming increasingly common make the need for new, more effective, and safer therapies to become more acute. Over the last decades, knowledge about the molecular biology of A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus species, and particularly of calcineurin, Hsp90, and their signaling pathway proteins, has progressed remarkably. Although calcineurin has attracted much interest, its adverse effects, particularly its immunosuppressive effects, make it less attractive than it might at first appear. The situation is not very different for Hsp90. Other proteins from their signaling pathways, such as protein kinases phosphorylating the four SPRR serine residues, CrzA, rcnA, pmcA-pmcC (particularly pmcC), rfeF, BAR adapter protein(s), the phkB histidine kinase, sskB MAP kinase kinase, zfpA, htfA, ctfA, SwoH (nucleoside diphosphate kinase), CchA, MidA, FKBP12, the K27 lysine position from Hsp90, PkcA, MpkA, RlmA, brlA, abaA, wetA, other heat shock proteins (Hsp70, Hsp40, Hsp12) currently appear promising and deserve further investigation as potential targets for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ancuceanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (M.V.H.)
| | - Marilena Viorica Hovaneț
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (M.V.H.)
| | - Maria Cojocaru-Toma
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2025 Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Adriana-Iuliana Anghel
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihaela Dinu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
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Nguyen S, Jovcevski B, Pukala TL, Bruning JB. Structural insights into the antifungal drug target guanosine monophosphate synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 78:248-259. [DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321012031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Purine biosynthesis is a fundamental cellular process that sustains life by maintaining the intracellular pool of purines for DNA/RNA synthesis and signal transduction. As an integral determinant of fungal survival and virulence, the enzymes in this metabolic pathway have been pursued as potential antifungal targets. Guanosine monophosphate (GMP) synthase has been identified as an attractive target as it is essential for virulence in the clinically prominent fungal pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. However, a lack of structural information on GMP synthase has hindered drug-design efforts. Here, the first structure of a GMP synthase of fungal origin, that from A. fumigatus (at 2.3 Å resolution), is presented. Structural analysis of GMP synthase shows a distinct absence of the D1 dimerization domain that is present in the human homologue. Interestingly, A. fumigatus GMP synthase adopts a dimeric state, as determined by native mass spectrometry and gel-filtration chromatography, in contrast to the monomeric human homologue. Analysis of the substrate-binding pockets of A. fumigatus GMP synthase reveals key differences in the ATP- and XMP-binding sites that can be exploited for species-specific inhibitor drug design. Furthermore, the inhibitory activities of the glutamine analogues acivicin (IC50 = 16.6 ± 2.4 µM) and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (IC50 = 29.6 ± 5.6 µM) against A. fumigatus GMP synthase are demonstrated. Together, these data provide crucial structural information required for specifically targeting A. fumigatus GMP synthase for future antifungal drug-discovery endeavours.
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F. Q. Smith D, Casadevall A. Fungal immunity and pathogenesis in mammals versus the invertebrate model organism Galleria mellonella. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:ftab013. [PMID: 33544836 PMCID: PMC7981337 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) have emerged as a model system to explore experimental aspects of fungal pathogenesis. The benefits of the G. mellonella model include being faster, cheaper, higher throughput and easier compared with vertebrate models. Additionally, as invertebrates, their use is subject to fewer ethical and regulatory issues. However, for G. mellonella models to provide meaningful insight into fungal pathogenesis, the G. mellonella-fungal interactions must be comparable to mammalian-fungal interactions. Indeed, as discussed in the review, studies suggest that G. mellonella and mammalian immune systems share many similarities, and fungal virulence factors show conserved functions in both hosts. While the moth model has opened novel research areas, many comparisons are superficial and leave large gaps of knowledge that need to be addressed concerning specific mechanisms underlying G. mellonella-fungal interactions. Closing these gaps in understanding will strengthen G. mellonella as a model for fungal virulence in the upcoming years. In this review, we provide comprehensive comparisons between fungal pathogenesis in mammals and G. mellonella from immunological and virulence perspectives. When information on an antifungal immune component is unknown in G. mellonella, we include findings from other well-studied Lepidoptera. We hope that by outlining this information available in related species, we highlight areas of needed research and provide a framework for understanding G. mellonella immunity and fungal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F. Q. Smith
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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6
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Durieux MF, Melloul É, Jemel S, Roisin L, Dardé ML, Guillot J, Dannaoui É, Botterel F. Galleria mellonella as a screening tool to study virulence factors of Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2021; 12:818-834. [PMID: 33682618 PMCID: PMC7946008 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1893945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The invertebrate Galleria mellonella has increasingly and widely been used in the last few years to study complex host–microbe interactions. Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most pathogenic fungi causing life-threatening diseases in humans and animals. Galleria mellonella larvae has been proven as a reliable model for the analysis of pathogenesis and virulence factors, enable to screen a large number of A. fumigatus strains. This review describes the different uses of G. mellonella to study A. fumigatus and provides a comparison of the different protocols to trace fungal pathogenicity. The review also includes a summary of the diverse mutants tested in G. mellonella, and their respective contribution to A. fumigatus virulence. Previous investigations indicated that G. mellonella should be considered as an interesting tool even though a mammalian model may be required to complete and verify initial data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Fleur Durieux
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie - Mycologie, CHU de Limoges, Limoges, France.,EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France
| | - Élise Melloul
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France
| | - Sana Jemel
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France
| | - Lolita Roisin
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie - Mycologie, CHU de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Jacques Guillot
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France.,École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Éric Dannaoui
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France.,Unité de Parasitologie-mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Françoise Botterel
- EA 7380 Dynamic, Université Paris Est Créteil, EnvA, USC ANSES, Créteil, France.,Unité de Mycologie, Département de Prévention, Diagnostic Et Traitement Des Infections, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor - Albert Chenevier, APHP, France
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7
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Nguyen S, Truong JQ, Bruning JB. Targeting Unconventional Pathways in Pursuit of Novel Antifungals. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 7:621366. [PMID: 33511160 PMCID: PMC7835888 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.621366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of invasive fungal infections on human health is a serious, but largely overlooked, public health issue. Commonly affecting the immunocompromised community, fungal infections are predominantly caused by species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus. Treatments are reliant on the aggressive use of pre-existing antifungal drug classes that target the fungal cell wall and membrane. Despite their frequent use, these drugs are subject to unfavorable drug-drug interactions, can cause undesirable side-effects and have compromised efficacy due to the emergence of antifungal resistance. Hence, there is a clear need to develop novel classes of antifungal drugs. A promising approach involves exploiting the metabolic needs of fungi by targeted interruption of essential metabolic pathways. This review highlights potential antifungal targets including enolase, a component of the enolase-plasminogen complex, and enzymes from the mannitol biosynthesis and purine nucleotide biosynthesis pathways. There has been increased interest in the enzymes that comprise these particular pathways and further investigation into their merits as antifungal targets and roles in fungal survival and virulence are warranted. Disruption of these vital processes by targeting unconventional pathways with small molecules or antibodies may serve as a promising approach to discovering novel classes of antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Nguyen
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jia Q Truong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - John B Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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8
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Nguyen S, Jovcevski B, Pukala TL, Bruning JB. Nucleoside selectivity of Aspergillus fumigatus nucleoside-diphosphate kinase. FEBS J 2020; 288:2398-2417. [PMID: 33089641 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus infections are rising at a disconcerting rate in tandem with antifungal resistance rates. Efforts to develop novel antifungals have been hindered by the limited knowledge of fundamental biological and structural mechanisms of A. fumigatus propagation. Biosynthesis of NTPs, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, is catalysed by NDK. An essential enzyme in A. fumigatus, NDK poses as an attractive target for novel antifungals. NDK exhibits broad substrate specificity across species, using both purines and pyrimidines, but the selectivity of such nucleosides in A. fumigatus NDK is unknown, impeding structure-guided inhibitor design. Structures of NDK in unbound- and NDP-bound states were solved, and NDK activity was assessed in the presence of various NTP substrates. We present the first instance of a unique substrate binding mode adopted by CDP and TDP specific to A. fumigatus NDK that illuminates the structural determinants of selectivity. Analysis of the oligomeric state reveals that A. fumigatus NDK adopts a hexameric assembly in both unbound- and NDP-bound states, contrary to previous reports suggesting it is tetrameric. Kinetic analysis revealed that ATP exhibited the greatest turnover rate (321 ± 33.0 s-1 ), specificity constant (626 ± 110.0 mm-1 ·s-1 ) and binding free energy change (-37.0 ± 3.5 kcal·mol-1 ). Comparatively, cytidine nucleosides displayed the slowest turnover rate (53.1 ± 3.7 s-1 ) and lowest specificity constant (40.2 ± 4.4 mm-1 ·s-1 ). We conclude that NDK exhibits nucleoside selectivity whereby adenine nucleosides are used preferentially compared to cytidine nucleosides, and these insights can be exploited to guide drug design. ENZYMES: Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6). DATABASE: Structural data are available in the PDB database under the accession numbers: Unbound-NDK (6XP4), ADP-NDK (6XP7), GDP-NDK (6XPS), IDP-NDK (6XPU), UDP-NDK (6XPT), CDP-NDK (6XPW), TDP-NDK (6XPV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Nguyen
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Blagojce Jovcevski
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia.,School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tara L Pukala
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - John B Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia
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9
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Souza JAM, Baltazar LDM, Carregal VM, Gouveia-Eufrasio L, de Oliveira AG, Dias WG, Campos Rocha M, Rocha de Miranda K, Malavazi I, Santos DDA, Frézard FJG, de Souza DDG, Teixeira MM, Soriani FM. Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus Extracellular Vesicles and Their Effects on Macrophages and Neutrophils Functions. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2008. [PMID: 31551957 PMCID: PMC6738167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been considered an alternative process for intercellular communication. EVs release by filamentous fungi and the role of vesicular secretion during fungus-host cells interaction remain unknown. Here, we identified the secretion of EVs from the pathogenic filamentous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. Analysis of the structure of EVs demonstrated that A. fumigatus produces round shaped bilayer structures ranging from 100 to 200 nm size, containing ergosterol and a myriad of proteins involved in REDOX, cell wall remodeling and metabolic functions of the fungus. We demonstrated that macrophages can phagocytose A. fumigatus EVs. Phagocytic cells, stimulated with EVs, increased fungal clearance after A. fumigatus conidia challenge. EVs were also able to induce the production of TNF-α and CCL2 by macrophages and a synergistic effect was observed in the production of these mediators when the cells were challenged with the conidia. In bone marrow-derived neutrophils (BMDN) treated with EVs, there was enhancement of the production of TNF-α and IL-1β in response to conidia. Together, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that A. fumigatus produces EVs containing a diverse set of proteins involved in fungal physiology and virulence. Moreover, EVs are biologically active and stimulate production of inflammatory mediators and fungal clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Amanda Marques Souza
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ludmila de Matos Baltazar
- Laboratório de Interação Microrganismo-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Virgínia Mendes Carregal
- Laboratório de Biofísica e Sistemas Nanoestruturados, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ludmila Gouveia-Eufrasio
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo de Oliveira
- Lab Circuitos Fisiológicos, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Wendell Girard Dias
- Plataforma de Microscopia Eletrônica Rudolf Barth, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Kildare Rocha de Miranda
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Daniel de Assis Santos
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Jean Georges Frézard
- Laboratório de Biofísica e Sistemas Nanoestruturados, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Daniele da Glória de Souza
- Laboratório de Interação Microrganismo-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Mauro Martins Teixeira
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Frederico Marianetti Soriani
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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10
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Characterization of crystal structure and key residues of Aspergillus fumigatus nucleoside diphosphate kinase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:148-153. [PMID: 30773256 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.01.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a major pathogen of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis with high mortality rate. The nucleoside diphosphate kinase of A. fumigatus, AfNDK (also called SwoH) is essential for its viability, however, its structural characteristic was unknown. In this study, we solved the crystal structure of AfNDK and found that it exists predominantly in form of tetramer in solution. Oligomeric form rather than dimeric form was essential for its kinase activity. The Arg30 and the C terminal amino acids were crucial for dimer-dimer interaction and the viability of A. fumigatus. Mutation V83F might make the secondary structure α5 helix protrude outward so that the whole protein structure became unstable at higher temperature, which might subsequently result to the inviability of A. fumigatus under 44 °C. In conclusion, the crystal structure of AfNDK was for the first time analyzed and the stability of the tetrameric form with dimer-dimer interaction were crucial for its function in A. fumigatus.
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Yeast two-hybrid screening reveals a dual function for the histone acetyltransferase GcnE by controlling glutamine synthesis and development in Aspergillus fumigatus. Curr Genet 2018; 65:523-538. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-018-0891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Juvvadi PR, Moseley MA, Hughes CJ, Soderblom EJ, Lennon S, Perkins SR, Thompson JW, Geromanos SJ, Wildgoose J, Richardson K, Langridge JI, Vissers JPC, Steinbach WJ. Scanning Quadrupole Data-Independent Acquisition, Part B: Application to the Analysis of the Calcineurin-Interacting Proteins during Treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus with Azole and Echinocandin Antifungal Drugs. J Proteome Res 2017; 17:780-793. [PMID: 29251506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Calcineurin is a critical cell-signaling protein that orchestrates growth, stress response, virulence, and antifungal drug resistance in several fungal pathogens. Blocking calcineurin signaling increases the efficacy of several currently available antifungals and suppresses drug resistance. We demonstrate the application of a novel scanning quadrupole DIA method for the analysis of changes in the proteins coimmunoprecipitated with calcineurin during therapeutic antifungal drug treatments of the deadly human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Our experimental design afforded an assessment of the precision of the method as demonstrated by peptide- and protein-centric analysis from eight replicates of the study pool QC samples. Two distinct classes of clinically relevant antifungal drugs that are guideline recommended for the treatment of invasive "aspergillosis" caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, the azoles (voriconazole) and the echinocandins (caspofungin and micafungin), which specifically target the fungal plasma membrane and the fungal cell wall, respectively, were chosen to distinguish variations occurring in the proteins coimmunoprecipitated with calcineurin. Novel potential interactors were identified in response to the different drug treatments that are indicative of the possible role for calcineurin in regulating these effectors. Notably, treatment with voriconazole showed increased immunoprecipitation of key proteins involved in membrane ergosterol biosynthesis with calcineurin. In contrast, echinocandin (caspofungin or micafungin) treatments caused increased immunoprecipitation of proteins involved in cell-wall biosynthesis and septation. Furthermore, abundant coimmunoprecipitation of ribosomal proteins with calcineurin occurred exclusively in echinocandins treatment, indicating reprogramming of cellular growth mechanisms during different antifungal drug treatments. While variations in the observed calcineurin immunoprecipitated proteins may also be due to changes in their expression levels under different drug treatments, this study suggests an important role for calcineurin-dependent cellular mechanisms in response to antifungal treatment of A. fumigatus that warrants future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - M Arthur Moseley
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | | | - Erik J Soderblom
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Sarah Lennon
- Waters Corporation , Wilmslow SK9 4AX, United Kingdom
| | - Simon R Perkins
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool , Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom
| | - J Will Thompson
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - William J Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
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Generation of an arginine-tRNA-adapted Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for effective heterologous protein expression. Curr Genet 2017; 64:589-598. [PMID: 29098364 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-017-0774-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The tRNA population reflects the codon bias of the organism and affects the translation of heterologous target mRNA molecules. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with modified levels of rare tRNA were engineered, that allowed efficient generation of recombinant proteins with unfavorable codon usage. We established a novel synthetic tRNA expression cassette and verified functional nonsense suppressor tRNAGlnSCUA generation in a stop codon read-through assay with a modified β-galactosidase reporter gene. Correlation between altered tRNA and protein level was shown by survival of copper sensitive S. cerevisiae cells in the presence of copper ions by an increased transcription of tRNAArgCCG molecules, recognizing rare codons in a modified CUP1 gene. Genome integration of tRNA expression cassette led to the generation of arginine-tRNA-adapted S. cerevisiae strains, which showed elevated tRNA levels (tRNAArgCCG, tRNAArgGCG and tRNAArgUCG) pairing to rare codons. The modified strain MNY3 revealed a considerably improved monitoring of protein-protein interaction from Aspergillus fumigatus bait and prey sequences in yeast two-hybrid experiments. In future, this principle to overcome limited recombinant protein expression by tRNA adaption of expression strains instead of codon adaption might provide new designer yeast cells for an efficient protein production and for improved genome-wide protein-protein interaction analyses.
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Gautam P, Mushahary D, Hassan W, Upadhyay SK, Madan T, Sirdeshmukh R, Sundaram CS, Sarma PU. In-depth 2-DE reference map of Aspergillus fumigatus and its proteomic profiling on exposure to itraconazole. Med Mycol 2016; 54:524-36. [PMID: 26868900 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myv122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a medically important opportunistic fungus that may lead to invasive aspergillosis in humans with weak immune system. Proteomic profiling of this fungus on exposure to itraconazole (ITC), an azole antifungal drug, may lead to identification of its molecular targets and better understanding on the development of drug resistance against ITC in A. fumigatus. Here, proteome analysis was performed using 2-DE followed by mass spectrometric analysis which resulted in identification of a total of 259 unique proteins. Further, proteome profiling of A. fumigatus was carried out on exposure to ITC, 0.154 μg/ml, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50). Image analysis showed altered levels of 175 proteins (66 upregulated and 109 downregulated) of A. fumigatus treated with ITC as compared to the untreated control. Peptide mass fingerprinting led to the identification of 54 proteins (12 up-regulated and 42 down-regulated). The differentially expressed proteins include proteins related to cell stress, carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. We also observed four proteins, including nucleotide phosphate kinase (NDK), that are reported to interact with calcineurin, a protein involved in regulation of cell morphology and fungal virulence. Comparison of differentially expressed proteins on exposure to ITC with artemisinin (ART), an antimalarial drug with antifungal activity(1), revealed a total of 26 proteins to be common among them suggesting that common proteins and pathways are targeted by these two antifungal agents. The proteins targeted by ITC may serve as important leads for development of new antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Gautam
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dolly Mushahary
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Wazid Hassan
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
| | | | - Taruna Madan
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Ravi Sirdeshmukh
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Puranam Usha Sarma
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India Department of Plant pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi, India
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Fleißner A. Turning the switch: using chemical genetics to elucidate protein kinase functions in filamentous fungi. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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