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Tang J, Sui Z, Li R, Xu Y, Xiang L, Fu S, Wei J, Cai X, Wu M, Zhang J, Chen W, Wei Y, Li G, Yang L. The Gβ-like protein Bcgbl1 regulates development and pathogenicity of the gray mold Botrytis cinerea via modulating two MAP kinase signaling pathways. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011839. [PMID: 38048363 PMCID: PMC10721196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal Gβ-like protein has been reported to be involved in a variety of biological processes, such as mycelial growth, differentiation, conidiation, stress responses and infection. However, molecular mechanisms of the Gβ-like protein in regulating fungal development and pathogenicity are largely unknown. Here, we show that the Gβ-like protein gene Bcgbl1 in the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea plays a pivotal role in development and pathogenicity by regulating the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases signaling pathways. The Bcgbl1 deletion mutants were defective in mycelial growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation, macroconidial morphogenesis, plant adhesion, and formation of infection cushions and appressorium-like structures, resulting in a complete loss of pathogenicity. Bcgbl1 interacted with BcSte50, the adapter protein of the cascade of MAP kinase (MAPK). Bcgbl1 mutants had reduced phosphorylation levels of two MAPKs, namely Bmp1 and Bmp3, thereby reducing infection. However, deletion of Bcgbl1 did not affect the intracellular cAMP level, and exogenous cAMP could not restore the defects. Moreover, Bcgbl1 mutants exhibited defects in cell wall integrity and oxidative stress tolerance. Transcriptional profiling revealed that Bcgbl1 plays a global role in regulation of gene expression upon hydrophobic surface induction. We further uncovered that three target genes encoding the hydrophobic surface binding proteins (HsbAs) contributed to the adhesion and virulence of B. cinerea. Overall, these findings suggest that Bcgbl1 had multiple functions and provided new insights for deciphering the Bcgbl1-mediated network for regulating development and pathogenicity of B. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiejing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhe Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ronghui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lixuan Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiying Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinfeng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingde Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Guoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Evolutionary Morphogenesis of Sexual Fruiting Bodies in Basidiomycota: Toward a New Evo-Devo Synthesis. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 86:e0001921. [PMID: 34817241 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00019-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of sexual fruiting bodies is one of the most complex morphogenetic processes in fungi. Mycologists have long been fascinated by the morphological and developmental diversity of fruiting bodies; however, evolutionary developmental biology of fungi still lags significantly behind that of animals or plants. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge on fruiting bodies of mushroom-forming Basidiomycota, focusing on phylogenetic and developmental biology. Phylogenetic approaches have revealed a complex history of morphological transformations and convergence in fruiting body morphologies. Frequent transformations and convergence is characteristic of fruiting bodies in contrast to animals or plants, where main body plans are highly conserved. At the same time, insights into the genetic bases of fruiting body development have been achieved using forward and reverse genetic approaches in selected model systems. Phylogenetic and developmental studies of fruiting bodies have each yielded major advances, but they have produced largely disjunct bodies of knowledge. An integrative approach, combining phylogenetic, developmental, and functional biology, is needed to achieve a true fungal evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) synthesis for fungal fruiting bodies.
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Multi-omics analysis of glucose-mediated signaling by a moonlighting Gβ protein Asc1/RACK1. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009640. [PMID: 34214075 PMCID: PMC8282090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G proteins were originally discovered through efforts to understand the effects of hormones, such as glucagon and epinephrine, on glucose metabolism. On the other hand, many cellular metabolites, including glucose, serve as ligands for G protein-coupled receptors. Here we investigate the consequences of glucose-mediated receptor signaling, and in particular the role of a Gα subunit Gpa2 and a non-canonical Gβ subunit, known as Asc1 in yeast and RACK1 in animals. Asc1/RACK1 is of particular interest because it has multiple, seemingly unrelated, functions in the cell. The existence of such “moonlighting” operations has complicated the determination of phenotype from genotype. Through a comparative analysis of individual gene deletion mutants, and by integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics measurements, we have determined the relative contributions of the Gα and Gβ protein subunits to glucose-initiated processes in yeast. We determined that Gpa2 is primarily involved in regulating carbohydrate metabolism while Asc1 is primarily involved in amino acid metabolism. Both proteins are involved in regulating purine metabolism. Of the two subunits, Gpa2 regulates a greater number of gene transcripts and was particularly important in determining the amplitude of response to glucose addition. We conclude that the two G protein subunits regulate distinct but complementary processes downstream of the glucose-sensing receptor, as well as processes that lead ultimately to changes in cell growth and metabolism. Despite the societal importance of glucose fermentation in yeast, the mechanisms by which these cells detect and respond to glucose have remained obscure. Glucose detection requires a cell surface receptor coupled to a G protein that is comprised of two subunits, rather than the more typical heterotrimer: an α subunit Gpa2 and the β subunit Asc1 (or RACK1 in humans). Asc1/RACK1 also serves as a subunit of the ribosome, where it regulates the synthesis of proteins involved in glucose fermentation. This manuscript uses global metabolomics and transcriptomics to demonstrate the distinct roles of each G protein subunit in transmitting the glucose signal. Whereas Gpa2 is primarily involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, Asc1/RACK1 contributes to production of amino acids necessary for protein synthesis and cell division. These findings reveal the initial steps of glucose signaling and several unique and complementary functions of the G protein subunits. More broadly, the integrated approach used here is likely to guide efforts to determine the topology of complex G protein and metabolic signaling networks in humans.
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Wang P. Genetic Transformation in Cryptococcus Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010056. [PMID: 33467426 PMCID: PMC7829943 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic transformation plays an imperative role in our understanding of the biology in unicellular yeasts and filamentous fungi, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus nidulans, Cryphonectria parasitica, and Magnaporthe oryzae. It also helps to understand the virulence and drug resistance mechanisms of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus that causes cryptococcosis in health and immunocompromised individuals. Since the first attempt at DNA transformation in this fungus by Edman in 1992, various methods and techniques have been developed to introduce DNA into this organism and improve the efficiency of homology-mediated gene disruption. There have been many excellent summaries or reviews covering the subject. Here we highlight some of the significant achievements and additional refinements in the genetic transformation of Cryptococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Wu T, Zhang Z, Hu C, Zhang L, Wei S, Li S. A WD40 Protein Encoding Gene Fvcpc2 Positively Regulates Mushroom Development and Yield in Flammulina velutipes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:498. [PMID: 32273873 PMCID: PMC7113406 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are two closely related phyla and fungi in two phyla share some common morphological developmental process during fruiting body formation. In Neurospora crassa, the Gβ-like protein CPC-2 with a seven-WD40 repeat domain was previously reported. By transforming CPC-2 ortholog encoding genes, from 7 different fungal species across Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, into the cpc-2 deletion mutant of N. crassa, we demonstrate that all tested CPC-2 ortholog genes were able to complement the defects of the cpc-2 deletion mutant in sexual development, indicating that CPC-2 proteins from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota have the similar cellular function. Using Flammulina velutipes as a model system for mushroom species, the CPC-2 ortholog FvCPC2 was characterized. Fvcpc2 increased transcription during fruiting body development. Knockdown of Fvcpc2 by RNAi completely impaired fruiting body formation. In three Fvcpc2 knockdown mutants, transcriptional levels of genes encoding adenylate cyclase and protein kinase A catalytic subunit were significantly lower and colony growth became slower than wild type. The addition of cAMP or the PKA-activator 8-Bromo-cAMP into the medium restored the Fvcpc2 knockdown mutants to the wild-type colony growth phenotype, suggesting that the involvement of cAMP production in the regulatory mechanisms of FvCPC2. Knockdown of Fvcpc2 also weakened transcriptional responses to sexual development induction by some genes related to fruiting body development, including 4 jacalin-related lectin encoding genes, 4 hydrophobin encoding genes, and 3 functionally-unknown genes, suggesting the participation of these genes in the mechanisms by which FvCPC2 regulates fruiting body development. All three Fvcpc2 overexpression strains displayed increased mushroom yield and shortened cultivation time compared to wild type, suggesting that Fvcpc2 can be a promising reference gene for Winter Mushroom breeding. Since the orthologs of FvCPC2 were highly conserved and specifically expressed during fruiting body development in different edible mushrooms, genes encoding FvCPC2 orthologs in other mushroom species also have potential application in breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taju Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengcheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Shandong Jinniu Biotech Company Limited, Jinan, China
| | - Shenglong Wei
- Gansu Engineering Laboratory of Applied Mycology, Hexi University, Zhangye, China
| | - Shaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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Yan H, Shim WB. Characterization of non-canonical G beta-like protein FvGbb2 and its relationship with heterotrimeric G proteins in Fusarium verticillioides. Environ Microbiol 2019; 22:615-628. [PMID: 31760684 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides is a fungal pathogen that is responsible for maize ear rot and stalk rot diseases worldwide. The fungus also produces carcinogenic mycotoxins, fumonisins on infested maize. Unfortunately, we still lack clear understanding of how the pathogen responds to host and environmental stimuli to trigger fumonisin biosynthesis. The heterotrimeric G protein complex, consisting of canonical Gα, Gβ and Gγ subunits, is involved in transducing signals from external stimuli to regulate downstream signal transduction pathways. Previously, we demonstrated that Gβ protein FvGbb1 directly impacts fumonisin regulation but not other physiological aspects in F. verticillioides. In this study, we identified and characterized a RACK1 (Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1) homolog FvGbb2 as a putative Gβ-like protein in F. verticillioides. The mutant exhibited severe defects not only in fumonisin biosynthesis but also vegetative growth and conidiation. FvGbb2 was positively associated with carbon source utilization and stress agents but negatively regulated general amino acid control. While FvGbb2 does not interact with canonical G protein subunits, it may associate with diverse proteins in the cytoplasm to regulate vegetative growth, virulence, fumonisin biosynthesis and stress response in F. verticillioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Yan
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Won Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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7
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Garud A, Carrillo AJ, Collier LA, Ghosh A, Kim JD, Lopez-Lopez B, Ouyang S, Borkovich KA. Genetic relationships between the RACK1 homolog cpc-2 and heterotrimeric G protein subunit genes in Neurospora crassa. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223334. [PMID: 31581262 PMCID: PMC6776386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor for Activated CKinase-1 (RACK1) is a multifunctional eukaryotic scaffolding protein with a seven WD repeat structure. Among their many cellular roles, RACK1 homologs have been shown to serve as alternative Gβ subunits during heterotrimeric G protein signaling in many systems. We investigated genetic interactions between the RACK1 homolog cpc-2, the previously characterized Gβ subunit gnb-1 and other G protein signaling components in the multicellular filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. Results from cell fractionation studies and from fluorescent microscopy of a strain expressing a CPC-2-GFP fusion protein revealed that CPC-2 is a cytoplasmic protein. Genetic epistasis experiments between cpc-2, the three Gα genes (gna-1, gna-2 and gna-3) and gnb-1 demonstrated that cpc-2 is epistatic to gna-2 with regards to basal hyphae growth rate and aerial hyphae height, while deletion of cpc-2 mitigates the increased macroconidiation on solid medium observed in Δgnb-1 mutants. Δcpc-2 mutants inappropriately produce conidiophores during growth in submerged culture and mutational activation of gna-3 alleviates this defect. Δcpc-2 mutants are female-sterile and fertility could not be restored by mutational activation of any of the three Gα genes. With the exception of macroconidiation on solid medium, double mutants lacking cpc-2 and gnb-1 exhibited more severe defects for all phenotypic traits, supporting a largely synergistic relationship between GNB-1 and CPC-2 in N. crassa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amruta Garud
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Alexander J. Carrillo
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Logan A. Collier
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Arit Ghosh
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - James D. Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Berenise Lopez-Lopez
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Shouqiang Ouyang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine A. Borkovich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Caza M, Kronstad JW. The cAMP/Protein Kinase a Pathway Regulates Virulence and Adaptation to Host Conditions in Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:212. [PMID: 31275865 PMCID: PMC6592070 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient sensing is critical for adaptation of fungi to environmental and host conditions. The conserved cAMP/PKA signaling pathway contributes to adaptation by sensing the availability of key nutrients such as glucose and directing changes in gene expression and metabolism. Interestingly, the cAMP/PKA pathway in fungal pathogens also influences the expression of virulence determinants in response to nutritional and host signals. For instance, protein kinase A (PKA) in the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans plays a central role in orchestrating phenotypic changes, such as capsule elaboration and melanin production, that directly impact disease development. In this review, we focus first on insights into the role of the cAMP/PKA pathway in nutrient sensing for the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to provide a foundation for understanding the pathway in C. neoformans. We then discuss key features of cAMP/PKA signaling in C. neoformans including new insights emerging from the analysis of transcriptional and proteomic changes in strains with altered PKA activity and expression. Finally, we highlight recent studies that connect the cAMP/PKA pathway to cell surface remodeling and the formation of titan cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Caza
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Yin Z, Zhang X, Wang J, Yang L, Feng W, Chen C, Gao C, Zhang H, Zheng X, Wang P, Zhang Z. MoMip11, a MoRgs7-interacting protein, functions as a scaffolding protein to regulate cAMP signaling and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:3168-3185. [PMID: 29727050 PMCID: PMC6162116 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae has eight regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) and RGS-like proteins (MoRgs1 to MoRgs8) that exhibit both distinct and shared regulatory functions in the growth, differentiation and pathogenicity of the fungus. We found MoRgs7 with a unique RGS-seven transmembrane (7-TM) domain motif is localized to the highly dynamic tubule-vesicular compartments during early appressorium differentiation followed by gradually degradation. To explore whether this involves an active signal perception of MoRgs7, we identified a Gbeta-like/RACK1 protein homolog in M. oryzae MoMip11 that interacts with MoRgs7. Interestingly, MoMip11 selectively interacted with several components of the cAMP regulatory pathway, including Gα MoMagA and the high-affinity phosphodiesterase MoPdeH. We further showed that MoMip11 promotes MoMagA activation and suppresses MoPdeH activity thereby upregulating intracellular cAMP levels. Moreover, MoMip11 is required for the response to multiple stresses, a role also shared by Gbeta-like/RACK1 adaptor proteins. In summary, we revealed a unique mechanism by which MoMip11 links MoRgs7 and G-proteins to reugulate cAMP signaling, stress responses and pathogenicity of M. oryzae. Our studies revealed the multitude of regulatory networks that govern growth, development and pathogenicity in this important causal agent of rice blast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Yin
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaofang Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jingzhen Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lina Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wanzhen Feng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Chuyun Gao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Departments of Pediatrics, and Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Zhengguang Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
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10
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Bruni GO, Battle B, Kelly B, Zhang Z, Wang P. Comparative proteomic analysis of Gib2 validating its adaptor function in Cryptococcus neoformans. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180243. [PMID: 28686685 PMCID: PMC5501510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans causes often-fatal fungal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. While the exact disease mechanisms remain elusive, signal transduction pathways mediated by key elements such as G-protein α subunit Gpa1, small GTPase Ras1, and atypical Gβ-like/RACK1 protein Gib2 are known to play important roles in C. neoformans virulence. Gib2 is important for normal growth, differentiation, and pathogenicity, and it also positively regulates cAMP levels in conjunction with Gpa1. Interestingly, Gib2 displays a scaffold protein property by interacting with a wide variety of cellular proteins. To explore Gib2 global regulatory functions, we performed two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) analysis and found that GIB2 disruption results in an increased expression of 304 protein spots (43.4%) and a decreased expression of 396 protein spots (56.6%). Analysis of 96 proteins whose expression changes were deemed significant (≥ +/- 1.5- fold) revealed that 75 proteins belong to at least 12 functional protein groups. Among them, eight groups have the statistical stringency of p ≤ 0.05, and four groups, including Hsp70/71 heat shock protein homologs and ribosomal proteins, survived the Bonferroni correction. This finding is consistent with earlier established roles for the human Gβ-like/RACK1 and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Asc1. It suggests that Gib2 could also be part of the complex affecting ribosomal biogenesis and protein translation in C. neoformans. Since eukaryotic Hsp70/71 proteins are involved in the facilitation of nascent protein folding, processing, and protection of cells against stress, we also propose that Gib2-regulated stress responses are linked to fungal virulence. Collectively, our study supports a conserved role of Gβ-like/RACK/Gib2 proteins in the essential cellular process of ribosomal biogenesis and protein translation. Our study also highlights a multifaceted regulatory role of Gib2 in the growth and pathogenicity of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian O Bruni
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Blake Battle
- College of Arts and Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Ben Kelly
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Zhengguang Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America.,Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
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11
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Kelliher CM, Haase SB. Connecting virulence pathways to cell-cycle progression in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Curr Genet 2017; 63:803-811. [PMID: 28265742 PMCID: PMC5605583 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-017-0688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Proliferation and host evasion are critical processes to understand at a basic biological level for improving infectious disease treatment options. The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes fungal meningitis in immunocompromised individuals by proliferating in cerebrospinal fluid. Current antifungal drugs target "virulence factors" for disease, such as components of the cell wall and polysaccharide capsule in C. neoformans. However, mechanistic links between virulence pathways and the cell cycle are not as well studied. Recently, cell-cycle synchronized C. neoformans cells were profiled over time to identify gene expression dynamics (Kelliher et al., PLoS Genet 12(12):e1006453, 2016). Almost 20% of all genes in the C. neoformans genome were periodically activated during the cell cycle in rich media, including 40 genes that have previously been implicated in virulence pathways. Here, we review important findings about cell-cycle-regulated genes in C. neoformans and provide two examples of virulence pathways-chitin synthesis and G-protein coupled receptor signaling-with their putative connections to cell division. We propose that a "comparative functional genomics" approach, leveraging gene expression timing during the cell cycle, orthology to genes in other fungal species, and previous experimental findings, can lead to mechanistic hypotheses connecting the cell cycle to fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Kelliher
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708-0338, USA
| | - Steven B Haase
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708-0338, USA.
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Yuan L, Su Y, Zhou S, Feng Y, Guo W, Wang X. A RACK1-like protein regulates hyphal morphogenesis, root entry and in vivo virulence in Verticillium dahliae. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 99:52-61. [PMID: 28089629 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To identify key genes expressed in Verticillium dahliae in early stages of infection of cotton roots, spore suspensions of eight V. dahliae isolates with different virulence levels were induced by cotton roots and genes expressed in these isolates during the early stages of infection were profiled. A gene that was differentially expressed between highly and less virulent strains was identified. Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of the gene suggested that it belongs to the putative Gβ-like/RACK1 protein family, and has seven WD40 domains. Targeted deletion of the gene revealed that it controls a number of growth-related phenotypes, including conidia and microsclerotia production, normal spore germination and hyphal development. RACK1 is a component of eukaryotic ribosomes, and here we found by qRT-PCR that disruption of RACK1 in V. dahliae (designated VdRACK1) significantly altered the transcriptional levels of other ribosomal proteins, suggesting possible global effects of VdRACK1 deletion on the protein translation of other genes. VdRACK1-null mutants lost the ability to penetrate intact cotton roots. However, the mutant strain was able to infect root-wounded cotton plants and, intriguingly, resulted in a hypervirulent phenotype, implicating a role for VdRACK1 in the restriction of rampant growth within the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yuan
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yaxin Su
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yigao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wangzhen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Roles of Rack1 Proteins in Fungal Pathogenesis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:4130376. [PMID: 27656651 PMCID: PMC5021465 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4130376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi cause diseases on various organisms. Despite their differences in life cycles, fungal pathogens use well-conserved proteins and pathways to regulate developmental and infection processes. In this review, we focus on Rack1, a multifaceted scaffolding protein involved in various biological processes. Rack1 is well conserved in eukaryotes and plays important roles in fungi, though limited studies have been conducted. To accelerate the study of Rack1 proteins in fungi, we review the functions of Rack1 proteins in model and pathogenic fungi and summarize recent progress on how Rack1 proteins are involved in fungal pathogenesis.
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Qu J, Ero R, Feng C, Ong LT, Tan HF, Lee HS, Ismail MHB, Bu WT, Nama S, Sampath P, Gao YG, Tan SM. Kindlin-3 interacts with the ribosome and regulates c-Myc expression required for proliferation of chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18491. [PMID: 26677948 PMCID: PMC4683439 DOI: 10.1038/srep18491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Kindlins are FERM-containing cytoplasmic proteins that regulate integrin-mediated cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) attachments. Kindlin-3 is expressed in hematopoietic cells, platelets, and endothelial cells. Studies have shown that kindlin-3 stabilizes cell adhesion mediated by ß1, ß2, and ß3 integrins. Apart from integrin cytoplasmic tails, kindlins are known to interact with other cytoplasmic proteins. Here we demonstrate that kindlin-3 can associate with ribosome via the receptor for activated-C kinase 1 (RACK1) scaffold protein based on immunoprecipitation, ribosome binding, and proximity ligation assays. We show that kindlin-3 regulates c-Myc protein expression in the human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562. Cell proliferation was reduced following siRNA reduction of kindlin-3 expression and a significant reduction in tumor mass was observed in xenograft experiments. Mechanistically, kindlin-3 is involved in integrin α5ß1-Akt-mTOR-p70S6K signaling; however, its regulation of c-Myc protein expression could be independent of this signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Rya Ero
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Chen Feng
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Li-Teng Ong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Hui-Foon Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Hui-Shan Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Muhammad H B Ismail
- Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Wen-Ting Bu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Srikanth Nama
- Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Prabha Sampath
- Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138648, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117597,Singapore.,Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Yong-Gui Gao
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Suet-Mien Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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The Gβ-like protein CpcB is required for hyphal growth, conidiophore morphology and pathogenicity in Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 81:120-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Choi J, Jung WH, Kronstad JW. The cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway in pathogenic basidiomycete fungi: Connections with iron homeostasis. J Microbiol 2015; 53:579-87. [PMID: 26231374 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-5247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A number of pathogenic species of basidiomycete fungi are either life-threatening pathogens of humans or major economic pests for crop production. Sensing the host is a key aspect of pathogen proliferation during disease, and signal transduction pathways are critically important for detecting environmental conditions and facilitating adaptation. This review focuses on the contributions of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans, a species that causes meningitis in humans, and Ustilago maydis, a model phytopathogen that causes a smut disease on maize. Environmental sensing by the cAMP/PKA pathway regulates the production of key virulence traits in C. neoformans including the polysaccharide capsule and melanin. For U. maydis, the pathway controls the dimorphic transition from budding growth to the filamentous cell type required for proliferation in plant tissue. We discuss recent advances in identifying new components of the cAMP/PKA pathway in these pathogens and highlight an emerging theme that pathway signaling influences iron acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehyuk Choi
- Division of Life Sciences, and Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms, Incheon National University, Incheon, 406-772, Republic of Korea
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Polvi EJ, Li X, O’Meara TR, Leach MD, Cowen LE. Opportunistic yeast pathogens: reservoirs, virulence mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:2261-87. [PMID: 25700837 PMCID: PMC11113693 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1860-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Life-threatening invasive fungal infections are becoming increasingly common, at least in part due to the prevalence of medical interventions resulting in immunosuppression. Opportunistic fungal pathogens of humans exploit hosts that are immunocompromised, whether by immunosuppression or genetic predisposition, with infections originating from either commensal or environmental sources. Fungal pathogens are armed with an arsenal of traits that promote pathogenesis, including the ability to survive host physiological conditions and to switch between different morphological states. Despite the profound impact of fungal pathogens on human health worldwide, diagnostic strategies remain crude and treatment options are limited, with resistance to antifungal drugs on the rise. This review will focus on the global burden of fungal infections, the reservoirs of these pathogens, the traits of opportunistic yeast that lead to pathogenesis, host genetic susceptibilities, and the challenges that must be overcome to combat antifungal drug resistance and improve clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Polvi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4368, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Xinliu Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4368, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Teresa R. O’Meara
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4368, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Michelle D. Leach
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4368, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4368, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
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Crystal structure of Gib2, a signal-transducing protein scaffold associated with ribosomes in Cryptococcus neoformans. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8688. [PMID: 25732347 PMCID: PMC4894404 DOI: 10.1038/srep08688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The atypical Gβ-like/RACK1 Gib2 protein promotes cAMP signalling that plays a central role in regulating the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Gib2 contains a seven-bladed β transducin structure and is emerging as a scaffold protein interconnecting signalling pathways through interactions with various protein partners. Here, we present the crystal structure of Gib2 at a 2.2-Å resolution. The structure allows us to analyse the association between Gib2 and the ribosome, as well as to identify the Gib2 amino acid residues involved in ribosome binding. Our studies not only suggest that Gib2 has a role in protein translation but also present Gib2 as a physical link at the crossroads of various regulatory pathways important for the growth and virulence of C. neoformans.
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Cross talk between the cell wall integrity and cyclic AMP/protein kinase A pathways in Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio 2014; 5:mBio.01573-14. [PMID: 25118241 PMCID: PMC4145688 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01573-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen of immunocompromised people that causes fatal meningitis. The fungal cell wall is essential to viability and pathogenesis of C. neoformans, and biosynthesis and repair of the wall is primarily controlled by the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway. Previous work has shown that deletion of genes encoding the four major kinases in the CWI signaling pathway, namely, PKC1, BCK1, MKK2, and MPK1 results in severe cell wall phenotypes, sensitivity to a variety of cell wall stressors, and for Mpk1, reduced virulence in a mouse model. Here, we examined the global transcriptional responses to gene deletions of BCK1, MKK2, and MPK1 compared to wild-type cells. We found that over 1,000 genes were differentially expressed in one or more of the deletion strains, with 115 genes differentially expressed in all three strains, many of which have been identified as genes regulated by the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Biochemical measurements of cAMP levels in the kinase deletion strains revealed significantly less cAMP in all of the deletion strains compared to the wild-type strain. The deletion strains also produced significantly smaller capsules than the wild-type KN99 strain did under capsule-inducing conditions, although the levels of capsule they shed were similar to those shed by the wild type. Finally, addition of exogenous cAMP led to reduced sensitivity to cell wall stress and restored surface capsule to levels near those of wild type. Thus, we have direct evidence of cross talk between the CWI and cAMP/PKA pathways that may have important implications for regulation of cell wall and capsule homeostasis. Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen of immunocompromised people that causes fatal meningitis. The fungal cell wall is essential to viability and pathogenesis of C. neoformans, and biosynthesis and repair of the wall are primarily controlled by the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that deletion of any of three core kinases in the CWI pathway impacts not only the cell wall but also the amount of surface capsule. Deletion of any of the kinases results in significantly reduced cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, and addition of exogenous cAMP rescues the capsule defect and some cell wall defects, supporting a direct role for the CWI pathway in regulation of capsule in conjunction with the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway.
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A Ric8/synembryn homolog promotes Gpa1 and Gpa2 activation to respectively regulate cyclic AMP and pheromone signaling in Cryptococcus neoformans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2014; 13:1290-9. [PMID: 25084863 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00109-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The G protein α subunits Gpa1, Gpa2, and Gpa3 mediate signal transduction and are important in the growth and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. To understand how Gpa1 functions without a conventional Gβ subunit, we characterized a resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 (Ric8) homolog from C. neoformans, which shares amino acid sequence homology with other Ric8 proteins that exhibit guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity toward Gα. We found that the ric8 mutant was reduced in capsule size and melanin formation, which could be suppressed by cyclic AMP (cAMP) supplementation or by introducing the activated GPA1(Q284L) allele. Consistent with the fact that Ric8 participates in cAMP signaling to regulate virulence, the ric8 mutant was attenuated in virulence toward mice. Interestingly, disruption of RIC8 also resulted in opposing effects on pheromone signaling, as the ric8 mutant showed reduced mating but an enhanced ability to induce the pheromone response in the mating partner. To identify Ric8 functional mechanisms, we examined the interactions between Ric8 and the three Gα proteins. Ric8 interacted with Gpa1 and Gpa2, but not Gpa3. The presence of Gpa1(Q284L) negatively affected its interaction with Ric8, whereas the activated Gpa2(Q203L) allele abolished the interaction. Collectively, these findings suggest that Ric8 functions as a GEF to facilitate the activation of Gpa1-cAMP signaling and to promote Gpa2, affecting mating efficiency. Our study highlights the distinct and conserved characteristics associated with G protein signaling and contributes to our overall understanding of how G protein α subunits function with or without a canonical Gβ partner in C. neoformans.
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Omosigho NN, Swaminathan K, Plomann M, Müller-Taubenberger A, Noegel AA, Riyahi TY. The Dictyostelium discoideum RACK1 orthologue has roles in growth and development. Cell Commun Signal 2014; 12:37. [PMID: 24930026 PMCID: PMC4094278 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-12-37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) is a conserved protein belonging to the WD40 repeat family of proteins. It folds into a beta propeller with seven blades which allow interactions with many proteins. Thus it can serve as a scaffolding protein and have roles in several cellular processes. Results We identified the product of the Dictyostelium discoideum gpbB gene as the Dictyostelium RACK1 homolog. The protein is mainly cytosolic but can also associate with cellular membranes. DdRACK1 binds to phosphoinositides (PIPs) in protein-lipid overlay and liposome-binding assays. The basis of this activity resides in a basic region located in the extended loop between blades 6 and 7 as revealed by mutational analysis. Similar to RACK1 proteins from other organisms DdRACK1 interacts with G protein subunits alpha, beta and gamma as shown by yeast two-hybrid, pulldown, and immunoprecipitation assays. Unlike the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans RACK1 proteins it does not appear to take over Gβ function in D. discoideum as developmental and other defects were not rescued in Gβ null mutants overexpressing GFP-DdRACK1. Overexpression of GFP-tagged DdRACK1 and a mutant version (DdRACK1mut) which carried a charge-reversal mutation in the basic region in wild type cells led to changes during growth and development. Conclusion DdRACK1 interacts with heterotrimeric G proteins and can through these interactions impact on processes specifically regulated by these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Angelika A Noegel
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Köln, Germany.
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Wang Y, Shen G, Gong J, Shen D, Whittington A, Qing J, Treloar J, Boisvert S, Zhang Z, Yang C, Wang P. Noncanonical Gβ Gib2 is a scaffolding protein promoting cAMP signaling through functions of Ras1 and Cac1 proteins in Cryptococcus neoformans. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:12202-16. [PMID: 24659785 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.537183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Gβ-like/RACK1 functions as a key mediator of various pathways and contributes to numerous cellular functions in eukaryotic organisms. In the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, noncanonical Gβ Gib2 promotes cAMP signaling in cells lacking normal Gpa1 function while displaying versatility in interactions with Gα Gpa1, protein kinase Pkc1, and endocytic intersectin Cin1. To elucidate the Gib2 functional mechanism(s), we demonstrate that Gib2 is required for normal growth and virulence. We show that Gib2 directly binds to Gpa1 and Gγ Gpg1/Gpg2 and that it interacts with phosphodiesterase Pde2 and monomeric GTPase Ras1. Pde2 remains functionally dispensable, but Ras1 is found to associate with adenylyl cyclase Cac1 through the conserved Ras association domain. In addition, the ras1 mutant exhibits normal capsule formation, whereas the ras1 gpa1 mutant displays enhanced capsule formation, and the ras1 gpa1 cac1 mutant is acapsular. Collectively, these findings suggest that Gib2 promotes cAMP levels by relieving an inhibitory function of Ras1 on Cac1 in the absence of Gpa1. In addition, using GST affinity purification combined with mass spectrometry, we identified 47 additional proteins that interact with Gib2. These proteins have putative functions ranging from signal transduction, energy generation, metabolism, and stress response to ribosomal function. After establishing and validating a protein-protein interactive network, we believe Gib2 to be a key adaptor/scaffolding protein that drives the formation of various protein complexes required for growth and virulence. Our study reveals Gib2 as an essential component in deciphering the complexity of regulatory networks that control growth and virulence in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Wang
- From the Research Institute for Children, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
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Cloning and functional analysis of the Gβ gene Mgb1 and the Gγ gene Mgg1 in Monascus ruber. J Microbiol 2014; 52:35-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-014-3072-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kong Q, Wang L, Liu Z, Kwon NJ, Kim SC, Yu JH. Gβ-like CpcB plays a crucial role for growth and development of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70355. [PMID: 23936193 PMCID: PMC3728086 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth, development, virulence and secondary metabolism in fungi are governed by heterotrimeric G proteins (G proteins). A Gβ-like protein called Gib2 has been shown to function as an atypical Gβ in Gpa1-cAMP signaling in Cryptococcus neoformans. We found that the previously reported CpcB (cross pathway control B) protein is the ortholog of Gib2 in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. In this report, we further characterize the roles of CpcB in governing growth, development and toxigenesis in the two aspergilli. The deletion of cpcB results in severely impaired cellular growth, delayed spore germination, and defective asexual sporulation (conidiation) in both aspergilli. Moreover, CpcB is necessary for proper expression of the key developmental activator brlA during initiation and progression of conidiation in A. nidulans and A. fumigatus. Somewhat in accordance with the previous study, the absence of cpcB results in the formation of fewer, but not micro-, cleistothecia in A. nidulans in the presence of wild type veA, an essential activator of sexual development. However, the cpcB deletion mutant cleistothecia contain no ascospores, validating that CpcB is required for progression and completion of sexual fruiting including ascosporogenesis. Furthermore, unlike the canonical GβSfaD, CpcB is not needed for the biosynthesis of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (ST) as the cpcB null mutant produced reduced amount of ST with unaltered STC gene expression. However, in A. fumigatus, the deletion of cpcB results in the blockage of gliotoxin (GT) production. Further genetic analyses in A. nidulans indicate that CpcB may play a central role in vegetative growth, which might be independent of FadA- and GanB-mediated signaling. A speculative model summarizing the roles of CpcB in conjunction with SfaD in A. nidulans is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Kong
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Departments of Bacteriology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Long Wang
- Systematic Mycology & Lichenology Lab, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zengran Liu
- College of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Hebei University of Economics and Business, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nak-Jung Kwon
- Departments of Bacteriology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Sun Chang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Dae-Jon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Departments of Bacteriology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is characterized by its ability to induce a distinct polysaccharide capsule in response to a number of host-specific environmental stimuli. The induction of capsule is a complex biological process encompassing regulation at multiple steps, including the biosynthesis, transport, and maintenance of the polysaccharide at the cell surface. By precisely regulating the composition of its cell surface and secreted polysaccharides, C. neoformans has developed intricate ways to establish chronic infection and dormancy in the human host. The plasticity of the capsule structure in response to various host conditions also underscores the complex relationship between host and parasite. Much of this precise regulation of capsule is achieved through the transcriptional responses of multiple conserved signaling pathways that have been coopted to regulate this C. neoformans-specific virulence-associated phenotype. This review focuses on specific host stimuli that trigger the activation of the signal transduction cascades and on the downstream transcriptional responses that are required for robust encapsulation around the cell.
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Chong HS, Campbell L, Padula MP, Hill C, Harry E, Li SS, Wilkins MR, Herbert B, Carter D. Time-course proteome analysis reveals the dynamic response of Cryptococcus gattii cells to fluconazole. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42835. [PMID: 22880118 PMCID: PMC3412811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is an encapsulated fungus capable of causing fatal disease in immunocompetent humans and animals. As current antifungal therapies are few and limited in efficacy, and resistance is an emerging issue, the development of new treatment strategies is urgently required. The current study undertook a time-course analysis of the proteome of C. gattii during treatment with fluconazole (FLC), which is used widely in prophylactic and maintenance therapies. The aims were to analyze the overall cellular response to FLC, and to find fungal proteins involved in this response that might be useful targets in therapies that augment the antifungal activity of FLC. During FLC treatment, an increase in stress response, ATP synthesis and mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins, and a decrease in most ribosomal proteins was observed, suggesting that ATP-dependent efflux pumps had been initiated for survival and that the maintenance of ribosome synthesis was differentially expressed. Two proteins involved in fungal specific pathways were responsive to FLC. An integrative network analysis revealed co-ordinated processes involved in drug response, and highlighted hubs in the network representing essential proteins that are required for cell viability. This work demonstrates the dynamic cellular response of a typical susceptible isolate of C. gattii to FLC, and identified a number of proteins and pathways that could be targeted to augment the activity of FLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hin Siong Chong
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Leona Campbell
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew P. Padula
- ithree institute, University of Technology, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cameron Hill
- School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Harry
- ithree institute, University of Technology, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simone S. Li
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marc R. Wilkins
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ben Herbert
- School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dee Carter
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Fuller KK, Rhodes JC. Protein kinase A and fungal virulence: a sinister side to a conserved nutrient sensing pathway. Virulence 2012; 3:109-21. [PMID: 22460637 PMCID: PMC3396691 DOI: 10.4161/viru.19396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse fungal species are the cause of devastating agricultural and human diseases. As successful pathogenesis is dependent upon the ability of the fungus to adapt to the nutritional and chemical environment of the host, the understanding of signaling pathways required for such adaptation will provide insights into the virulence of these pathogens and the potential identification of novel targets for antifungal intervention. The cAMP-PKA signaling pathway is well conserved across eukaryotes. In the nonpathogenic yeast, S. cerevisiae, PKA is activated in response to extracellular nutrients and subsequently regulates metabolism and growth. Importantly, this pathway is also a regulator of pathogenesis, as defects in PKA signaling lead to an attenuation of virulence in diverse plant and human pathogenic fungi. This review will compare and contrast PKA signaling in S. cerevisiae vs. various pathogenic species and provide a framework for the role of this pathway in regulating fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Fuller
- Department of Pathology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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28
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Tzima AK, Paplomatas EJ, Tsitsigiannis DI, Kang S. The G protein β subunit controls virulence and multiple growth- and development-related traits in Verticillium dahliae. Fungal Genet Biol 2012; 49:271-83. [PMID: 22387367 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2012.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Revised: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To gain insight into the role of G protein-mediated signaling in virulence and development of the soilborne, wilt causing fungus Verticillium dahliae, the G protein β subunit gene (named as VGB) was disrupted in tomato race 1 strain of V. dahliae. A resulting mutant strain, 70ΔGb15, displayed drastic reduction in virulence, increased microsclerotia formation and conidiation, and decreased ethylene production compared to the corresponding wild type (wt) strain 70wt-r1. Moreover, 70ΔGb15 exhibited an elongated rather than radial growth pattern on agar media. A transformant of 70ΔGb15 (named as 70ΔGbPKAC1) that carries an extra copy of VdPKAC1, a V. dahliae gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, exhibited wt growth pattern and conidiation, was unable to form microsclerotia, produced high amounts of ethylene, and exhibited virulence between that of 70ΔGb15 and 70wt-r1 on tomato plants. Phenotypical changes observed in 70ΔGb15 and 70ΔGbPKAC1 correlated with transcriptional changes in several genes involved in signaling (MAP kinase VMK1) and development (hydrophobin VDH1 and ACC synthase ACS1) of V. dahliae. Results from the present work suggest a linkage between VGB and VdPKAC1 signaling pathways in regulating virulence, hormone production and development in V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliki K Tzima
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece.
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29
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Dyer PS, O'Gorman CM. Sexual development and cryptic sexuality in fungi: insights from Aspergillus species. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2011; 36:165-92. [PMID: 22091779 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Major insights into sexual development and cryptic sexuality within filamentous fungi have been gained from investigations using Aspergillus species. Here, an overview is first given into sexual morphogenesis in the aspergilli, describing the different types of sexual structures formed and how their production is influenced by a variety of environmental and nutritional factors. It is argued that the formation of cleistothecia and accessory tissues, such as Hülle cells and sclerotia, should be viewed as two independent but co-ordinated developmental pathways. Next, a comprehensive survey of over 75 genes associated with sexual reproduction in the aspergilli is presented, including genes relating to mating and the development of cleistothecia, sclerotia and ascospores. Most of these genes have been identified from studies involving the homothallic Aspergillus nidulans, but an increasing number of studies have now in addition characterized 'sex-related' genes from the heterothallic species Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. A schematic developmental genetic network is proposed showing the inter-relatedness between these genes. Finally, the discovery of sexual reproduction in certain Aspergillus species that were formerly considered to be strictly asexual is reviewed, and the importance of these findings for cryptic sexuality in the aspergilli as a whole is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Dyer
- School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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30
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Kronstad JW, Hu G, Choi J. The cAMP/Protein Kinase A Pathway and Virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. MYCOBIOLOGY 2011; 39:143-50. [PMID: 22783095 PMCID: PMC3385117 DOI: 10.5941/myco.2011.39.3.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The basidiomycete fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is an important pathogen of immunocompromised people. The ability of the fungus to sense its environment is critical for proliferation and the generation of infectious propagules, as well as for adaptation to the mammalian host during infection. The conserved cAMP/protein kinase A pathway makes an important contribution to sensing, as demonstrated by the phenotypes of mutants with pathway defects. These phenotypes include loss of the ability to mate and to elaborate the key virulence factors capsule and melanin. This review summarizes recent work that reveals new targets of the pathway, new phenotypic consequences of signaling defects, and a more detailed understanding of connections with other aspects of cryptococcal biology including iron regulation, pH sensing, and stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Kronstad
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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31
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Wang L, Berndt P, Xia X, Kahnt J, Kahmann R. A seven-WD40 protein related to human RACK1 regulates mating and virulence in Ustilago maydis. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:1484-98. [PMID: 21815950 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07783.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian cells RACK1 serves as a scaffold protein that has a role in integrating inputs from different signalling pathways and affects translation through association with ribosomes. Ustilago maydis contains a seven-WD40 repeat motif protein designated Rak1, which shows 68% identity to RACK1 and 51% identity to Asc1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An asc1 mutant could be complemented by introduction of U. maydis rak1. The deletion of rak1 affected cell growth, cell wall integrity and specifically attenuated cell fusion. This latter defect was caused by reduced expression of prf1 encoding the regulator for pheromone (mfa) and pheromone-receptor genes. Rak1 interacts with a variety of ribosomal proteins and microarray analysis revealed that the deletion of rak1 led to severely reduced expression of rop1, a transcriptional activator of prf1. The constitutive expression of rop1 could rescue the defect of mfa1 expression as well as conjugation tube formation in response to pheromone induction in the rak1 mutant. Moreover, a solopathogenic rak1 mutant failed to respond to plant-derived stimuli, resulting in attenuated filamentation and pathogenicity. This could be partially rescued by constitutive expression of the b heterodimer. These data suggest that rak1 is a regulator of rop1 expression with additional roles after cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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32
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Shapiro RS, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Regulatory circuitry governing fungal development, drug resistance, and disease. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2011; 75:213-67. [PMID: 21646428 PMCID: PMC3122626 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00045-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 384] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi have become a leading cause of human mortality due to the increasing frequency of fungal infections in immunocompromised populations and the limited armamentarium of clinically useful antifungal drugs. Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus are the leading causes of opportunistic fungal infections. In these diverse pathogenic fungi, complex signal transduction cascades are critical for sensing environmental changes and mediating appropriate cellular responses. For C. albicans, several environmental cues regulate a morphogenetic switch from yeast to filamentous growth, a reversible transition important for virulence. Many of the signaling cascades regulating morphogenesis are also required for cells to adapt and survive the cellular stresses imposed by antifungal drugs. Many of these signaling networks are conserved in C. neoformans and A. fumigatus, which undergo distinct morphogenetic programs during specific phases of their life cycles. Furthermore, the key mechanisms of fungal drug resistance, including alterations of the drug target, overexpression of drug efflux transporters, and alteration of cellular stress responses, are conserved between these species. This review focuses on the circuitry regulating fungal morphogenesis and drug resistance and the impact of these pathways on virulence. Although the three human-pathogenic fungi highlighted in this review are those most frequently encountered in the clinic, they represent a minute fraction of fungal diversity. Exploration of the conservation and divergence of core signal transduction pathways across C. albicans, C. neoformans, and A. fumigatus provides a foundation for the study of a broader diversity of pathogenic fungi and a platform for the development of new therapeutic strategies for fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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Wsp1, a GBD/CRIB domain-containing WASP homolog, is required for growth, morphogenesis, and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2011; 10:521-9. [PMID: 21357479 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00274-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human endocytic protein ITSN1 regulates actin reorganization by activating Rho family GTPases, such as Cdc42. The process is enhanced by ITSN binding of WASP, an effector of Cdc42 and a potent activator of actin polymerization. In the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, endocytic protein Cin1 also interacts with Cdc42 and Wsp1, an uncharacterized WASP homolog, but the significance of these interactions remains unknown. Wsp1 contains several conserved domains, including a WASP homology 1 domain (WH1), a GTPase binding/Cdc42 and Rac interactive binding domain (GBD/CRIB), and a C-terminal domain composed of verprolin-like, central, and acidic motifs (VCA). Thus, Wsp1 exhibits domain compositions more similar to human WASP proteins than Saccharomyces cerevisiae Las17/Bee1, a WASP homolog lacking the GDB/CRIB domain. Wsp1 is not an essential protein; however, the wsp1 mutant exhibited defects in growth, cytokinesis, chitin distribution, and endocytosis and exocytosis. The wsp1 mutant was also unable to undergo genetic cross, produce the polysaccharide capsule, or secrete the enzyme urease. An in vitro phagocytosis assay showed a higher phagocytic index for the wsp1 mutant, whose ability to cause lethal infection in a murine model of cryptococcosis was also attenuated. Our studies reveal divergent evolution of WASP proteins in the fungal phylum and suggest that the conserved function of WASP proteins in the actin cytoskeleton may also impact fungal virulence.
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Garcia J, Sims KJ, Schwacke JH, Del Poeta M. Biochemical systems analysis of signaling pathways to understand fungal pathogenicity. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 734:173-200. [PMID: 21468990 PMCID: PMC5155339 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-086-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, researchers have recognized the need to study biological systems as integrated systems. While the reductionist approaches of the past century have made remarkable advances of our understanding of life, the next phase of understanding comes from systems-level investigations. Additionally, biology has become a data-intensive field of research. The introduction of high throughput sequencing, microarrays, high throughput proteomics, metabolomics, and now lipidomics are producing significantly more data than can be interpreted using existing methods. The field of systems biology brings together methods from computer science, modeling, statistics, engineering, and biology to explore the volumes of data now being produced and to develop mathematical representations of metabolic, signaling, and gene regulatory systems. Advances in these methods are allowing biologists to develop new insights into the complexities of life, to predict cellular responses and treatment outcomes, and to effectively plan experiments that extend our understanding. In this chapter, we are providing the basic steps of developing and analyzing a small S-system model of a biochemical pathway related to sphingolipid metabolism in the regulation of virulence of the human fungal microbial pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kellie J Sims
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - John H Schwacke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Division of Infectious Disease, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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35
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Shen G, Whittington A, Song K, Wang P. Pleiotropic function of intersectin homologue Cin1 in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol 2010; 76:662-76. [PMID: 20345666 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07121.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The manifestation of virulence traits in Cryptococcus neoformans is thought to rely on intracellular transport, a process not fully explored in this pathogenic fungus. Through interaction cloning, we identified a multi-modular protein, Cin1 (cryptococcal intersectin 1), whose domain structure is similar to that of the human endocytic protein ITSN1. Cin1 contains an N-terminal EH domain, a central coiled-coil region, a WH2 domain, two SH3 domains and a C-terminal RhoGEF (DH)-PH domain. Interestingly, alternative mRNA splicing resulted in two Cin1 isoforms, and Cin1 homologues are also restricted to basidiomycetous fungi. Disruption of the CIN1 gene had a pleiotropic effect on growth, normal cytokinesis, intracellular transports and the production of several virulence factors. Additionally, Cin1 interacts with cryptococcal Cdc42 and Wsp1 (a WASP homologue) proteins in vitro, suggesting a conserved role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. However, deletion of RhoGEF or SH3 and RhoGEF domains did not result in any phenotypic changes, suggesting that functional redundancy exists in proteins containing similar domains or that the activities by other domains are necessary for Cin1 function. Our study presents the first evidence of a multi-modular protein whose function in intracellular transport underlies the growth, differentiation and virulence of a pathogenic microorganism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui Shen
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
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36
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Jung KW, Maeng S, Bahn YS. Functional Characterization of cAMP-Regulated Gene, CAR1, in Cryptococcus neoformans. MYCOBIOLOGY 2010; 38:26-32. [PMID: 23956621 PMCID: PMC3741591 DOI: 10.4489/myco.2010.38.1.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Accepted: 02/17/2010] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway plays a major role in growth, sexual differentiation, and virulence factor synthesis of pathogenic fungi. In Cryptococcus neoformans, perturbation of the cAMP pathway, such as a deletion in the gene encoding adenylyl cyclase (CAC1), causes defects in the production of virulence factors, including capsule and melanin production, as well as mating. Previously, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of the Ras- and cAMP-pathway mutants, which revealed 163 potential cAMP-regulated genes (38 genes at a 2-fold cutoff). The present study characterized the role of one of the cAMP pathway-dependent genes (serotype A identification number CNAG_ 06576.2). The expression patterns were confirmed by Northern blot analysis and the gene was designated cAMP-regulated gene 1 (CAR1). Interestingly, deletion of CAR1 did not affect biosynthesis of any virulence factors and the mating process, unlike the cAMP-signaling deficient cac1Δ mutant. Furthermore, the cac1Δ mutant exhibited wild-type levels of the stress-response phenotype against diverse environmental cues, indicating that Car1, albeit regulated by the cAMP-pathway, is not essential to confer a cAMP-dependent phenotype in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Woo Jung
- Department of Biotechnology, Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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37
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Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals novel roles of the Ras and cyclic AMP signaling pathways in environmental stress response and antifungal drug sensitivity in Cryptococcus neoformans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2010; 9:360-78. [PMID: 20097740 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00309-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway plays a central role in the growth, differentiation, and virulence of pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans. Three upstream signaling regulators of adenylyl cyclase (Cac1), Ras, Aca1, and Gpa1, have been demonstrated to control the cAMP pathway in C. neoformans, but their functional relationship remains elusive. We performed a genome-wide transcriptome analysis with a DNA microarray using the ras1Delta, gpa1Delta, cac1Delta, aca1Delta, and pka1Delta pka2Delta mutants. The aca1Delta, gpa1Delta, cac1Delta, and pka1Delta pka2Delta mutants displayed similar transcriptome patterns, whereas the ras1Delta mutant exhibited transcriptome patterns distinct from those of the wild type and the cAMP mutants. Interestingly, a number of environmental stress response genes are modulated differentially in the ras1Delta and cAMP mutants. In fact, the Ras signaling pathway was found to be involved in osmotic and genotoxic stress responses and the maintenance of cell wall integrity via the Cdc24-dependent signaling pathway. Notably, the Ras and cAMP mutants exhibited hypersensitivity to a polyene drug, amphotericin B, without showing effects on ergosterol biosynthesis, which suggested a novel method of antifungal combination therapy. Among the cAMP-dependent gene products that we characterized, two small heat shock proteins, Hsp12 and Hsp122, were found to be involved in the polyene antifungal drug susceptibility of C. neoformans.
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Abstract
Efficient communication with the environment is critical for all living organisms. Fungi utilize complex signalling systems to sense their environments and control proliferation, development and in some cases virulence. Well-studied signalling pathways include the protein kinase A/cyclic AMP (cAMP), protein kinase C (PKC)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), lipid signalling cascades, and the calcium-calcineurin signalling pathway. The human pathogenic basidiomycetous fungus Cryptococcus neoformans deploys sensitive signalling systems to survive in the human host, leading to life-threatening meningoencephalitis. Known virulence traits of this fungus, including the antioxidant melanin production, the antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule and the ability to grow at 37 degrees C, are orchestrated by complex signalling networks, whose understanding is crucial to better treat, diagnose and prevent cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Kozubowski
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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39
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Xue C, Hsueh YP, Heitman J. Magnificent seven: roles of G protein-coupled receptors in extracellular sensing in fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2008; 32:1010-32. [PMID: 18811658 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2008.00131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of transmembrane receptors and are responsible for transducing extracellular signals into intracellular responses that involve complex intracellular-signaling networks. This review highlights recent research advances in fungal GPCRs, including classification, extracellular sensing, and G protein-signaling regulation. The involvement of GPCRs in pheromone and nutrient sensing has been studied extensively over the past decade. Following recent advances in fungal genome sequencing projects, a panoply of GPCR candidates has been revealed and some have been documented to play key roles sensing diverse extracellular signals, such as pheromones, sugars, amino acids, nitrogen sources, and even photons. Identification and deorphanization of additional putative GPCRs may require the development of new research tools. Here, we compare research on GPCRs in fungi with information derived from mammalian systems to provide a useful road map on how to better understand ligand-GPCR-G protein interactions in general. We also emphasize the utility of yeast as a discovery tool for systemic studies of GPCRs from other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Xue
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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40
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Xue C, Hsueh YP, Chen L, Heitman J. The RGS protein Crg2 regulates both pheromone and cAMP signalling in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol 2008; 70:379-95. [PMID: 18761692 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06417.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
G proteins orchestrate critical cellular functions by transducing extracellular signals into internal signals and controlling cellular responses to environmental cues. G proteins typically function as switches that are activated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and negatively controlled by regulator of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, three G protein alpha subunits (Gpa1, Gpa2 and Gpa3) have been identified. In a previous study, we identified the RGS protein Crg2 involved in regulating the pheromone response pathway through Gpa2 and Gpa3. In this study, a role for Crg2 was established in the Gpa1-cAMP signalling pathway that governs mating and virulence. We show that Crg2 physically interacts with Gpa1 and crg2 mutations increase cAMP production. crg2 mutations also enhance mating filament hyphae production, but reduce cell-cell fusion and sporulation efficiency during mating. Although crg2 mutations and the Gpa1 dominant active allele GPA1(Q284L) enhanced melanin production under normally repressive conditions, virulence was attenuated in a murine model. We conclude that Crg2 participates in controlling both Gpa1-cAMP-virulence and pheromone-mating signalling cascades and hypothesize it may serve as a molecular interface between these two central signalling conduits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Xue
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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41
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Ullah H, Scappini EL, Moon AF, Williams LV, Armstrong DL, Pedersen LC. Structure of a signal transduction regulator, RACK1, from Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein Sci 2008; 17:1771-80. [PMID: 18715992 DOI: 10.1110/ps.035121.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) is a highly conserved WD40 repeat scaffold protein found in a wide range of eukaryotic species from Chlamydymonas to plants and humans. In tissues of higher mammals, RACK1 is ubiquitously expressed and has been implicated in diverse signaling pathways involving neuropathology, cellular stress, protein translation, and developmental processes. RACK1 has established itself as a scaffold protein through physical interaction with a myriad of signaling proteins ranging from kinases, phosphatases, ion channels, membrane receptors, G proteins, IP3 receptor, and with widely conserved structural proteins associated with the ribosome. In the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, RACK1A is implicated in diverse developmental and environmental stress pathways. Despite the functional conservation of RACK1-mediated protein-protein interaction-regulated signaling modes, the structural basis of such interactions is largely unknown. Here we present the first crystal structure of a RACK1 protein, RACK1 isoform A from Arabidopsis thaliana, at 2.4 A resolution, as a C-terminal fusion of the maltose binding protein. The structure implicates highly conserved surface residues that could play critical roles in protein-protein interactions and reveals the surface location of proposed post-transcriptionally modified residues. The availability of this structure provides a structural basis for dissecting RACK1-mediated cellular signaling mechanisms in both plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemayet Ullah
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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42
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The RGS protein Crg2 regulates pheromone and cyclic AMP signaling in Cryptococcus neoformans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2008; 7:1540-8. [PMID: 18658258 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00154-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Crg1 and Crg2 are regulators of G-protein signaling homologs found in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Crg1 negatively regulates pheromone responses and mating through direct inhibition of Galpha subunits Gpa2 and Gpa3. It has also been proposed that Crg2 has a role in mating, as genetic crosses involving Deltacrg2 mutants resulted in formation of hyperfilaments. We found that mutation of Gpa2 and Gpa3 partially suppressed the hyperfilamentation, mutation of Gpa3 alleviated Deltacrg2-specfic cell swelling, and mutation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Cpk1 blocked both processes. These findings indicate that Gpa2 and Gpa3 function downstream of Crg2 and that Gpa3 is also epistatic to Crg2 in a Cpk1-dependent morphogenesis process linked to mating. Significantly, we found that Deltacrg2 mutants formed enlarged capsules that mimic cells expressing a constitutively active GPA1(Q284L) allele and that the levels of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) were also elevated, suggesting that Crg2 also negatively regulates the Gpa1-cAMP signaling pathway. We further showed that Crg2 interacted with Gpa3 and Gpa1, but not Gpa2, in a pulldown assay and that Crg2 maintained a higher in vitro GTPase-activating protein activity toward Gpa3 and Gpa1 than to Gpa2. Finally, we found that dysregulation of cAMP due to the Crg2 mutation attenuated virulence in a murine model of cryptococcosis. Taken together, our study reveals Crg2 as an RGS (regulator of G-protein signaling) protein of multiregulatory function, including one that controls mating distinctly from Crg1 and one that serves as a novel inhibitor of Gpa1-cAMP signaling.
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43
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Shpakov AO, Pertseva MN. Chapter 4 Signaling Systems of Lower Eukaryotes and Their Evolution. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 269:151-282. [DOI: 10.1016/s1937-6448(08)01004-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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44
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Abstract
Filamentous fungi are multicellular eukaryotic organisms known for nutrient recycling as well as for antibiotic and food production. This group of organisms also contains the most devastating plant pathogens and several important human pathogens. Since the first report of heterotrimeric G proteins in filamentous fungi in 1993, it has been demonstrated that G proteins are essential for growth, asexual and sexual development, and virulence in both animal and plant pathogenic filamentous species. Numerous G protein subunit and G protein-coupled receptor genes have been identified, many from whole-genome sequences. Several regulatory pathways have now been delineated, including those for nutrient sensing, pheromone response and mating, and pathogenesis. This review provides a comparative analysis of G protein pathways in several filamentous species, with discussion of both unifying themes and important unique signaling paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liande Li
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
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Valerius O, Kleinschmidt M, Rachfall N, Schulze F, López Marín S, Hoppert M, Streckfuss-Bömeke K, Fischer C, Braus GH. The Saccharomyces Homolog of Mammalian RACK1, Cpc2/Asc1p, Is Required for FLO11-dependent Adhesive Growth and Dimorphism. Mol Cell Proteomics 2007; 6:1968-79. [PMID: 17704055 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m700184-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient starvation results in the interaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with each other and with surfaces. Adhesive growth requires the expression of the FLO11 gene regulated by the Ras/cAMP/cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the Kss1p/MAPK, and the Gcn4p/general amino acid control pathway, respectively. Proteomics two-dimensional DIGE experiments revealed post-transcriptionally regulated proteins in response to amino acid starvation including the ribosomal protein Cpc2p/Asc1p. This putative translational regulator is highly conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom and orthologous to mammalian RACK1. Deletion of CPC2/ASC1 abolished amino acid starvation-induced adhesive growth and impaired basal expression of FLO11 and its activation upon starvation in haploid cells. In addition, the diploid Flo11p-dependent pseudohyphal growth during nitrogen limitation was CPC2/ASC1-dependent. A more detailed analysis revealed that a CPC2/ASC1 deletion caused increased sensitivity to cell wall drugs suggesting that the gene is required for general cell wall integrity. Phosphoproteome and Western hybridization data indicate that Cpc2p/Asc1p affected the phosphorylation of the translational initiation factors eIF2 alpha and eIF4A and the ribosome-associated complex RAC. A crucial role of Cpc2p/Asc1p at the ribosomal interface coordinating signal transduction, translation initiation, and transcription factor formation was corroborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Valerius
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Chen D, Janganan TK, Chen G, Marques ER, Kress MR, Goldman GH, Walmsley AR, Borges-Walmsley MI. The cAMP pathway is important for controlling the morphological switch to the pathogenic yeast form of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Mol Microbiol 2007; 65:761-79. [PMID: 17635191 PMCID: PMC2064555 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05824.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a human pathogenic fungus that switches from a saprobic mycelium to a pathogenic yeast. Consistent with the morphological transition being regulated by the cAMP-signalling pathway, there is an increase in cellular cAMP levels both transiently at the onset (< 24 h) and progressively in the later stages (> 120 h) of the transition to the yeast form, and this transition can be modulated by exogenous cAMP. We have cloned the cyr1 gene encoding adenylate cyclase (AC) and established that its transcript levels correlate with cAMP levels. In addition, we have cloned the genes encoding three Gα (Gpa1–3), Gβ (Gpb1) and Gγ (Gpg1) G proteins. Gpa1 and Gpb1 interact with one another and the N-terminus of AC, but neither Gpa2 nor Gpa3 interacted with Gpb1 or AC. The interaction of Gpa1 with Gpb1 was blocked by GTP, but its interaction with AC was independent of bound nucleotide. The transcript levels for gpa1, gpb1 and gpg1 were similar in mycelium, but there was a transient excess of gpb1 during the transition, and an excess of gpa1 in yeast. We have interpreted our findings in terms of a novel signalling mechanism in which the activity of AC is differentially modulated by Gpa1 and Gpb1 to maintain the signal over the 10 days needed for the morphological switch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daliang Chen
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham – Queen's CampusStockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
| | - Thamarai K Janganan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham – Queen's CampusStockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
| | - Gongyou Chen
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham – Queen's CampusStockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
| | - Everaldo R Marques
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. do Cafe S/NCEP 14040-903, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Marcia R Kress
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. do Cafe S/NCEP 14040-903, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. do Cafe S/NCEP 14040-903, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Adrian R Walmsley
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham – Queen's CampusStockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
- For correspondence. E-mail , ; Tel. (+44) (0)191 334 0465 or 0467; Fax (+44) (0)191 334 0468
| | - M Inês Borges-Walmsley
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham – Queen's CampusStockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
- For correspondence. E-mail , ; Tel. (+44) (0)191 334 0465 or 0467; Fax (+44) (0)191 334 0468
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47
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Li L, Shen G, Zhang ZG, Wang YL, Thompson JK, Wang P. Canonical heterotrimeric G proteins regulating mating and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Biol Cell 2007; 18:4201-9. [PMID: 17699592 PMCID: PMC2043552 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e07-02-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Perturbation of pheromone signaling modulates not only mating but also virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic human pathogen known to encode three Galpha, one Gbeta, and two Ggamma subunit proteins. We have found that Galphas Gpa2 and Gpa3 exhibit shared and distinct roles in regulating pheromone responses and mating. Gpa2 interacted with the pheromone receptor homolog Ste3alpha, Gbeta subunit Gpb1, and RGS protein Crg1. Crg1 also exhibited in vitro GAP activity toward Gpa2. These findings suggest that Gpa2 regulates mating through a conserved signaling mechanism. Moreover, we found that Ggammas Gpg1 and Gpg2 both regulate pheromone responses and mating. gpg1 mutants were attenuated in mating, and gpg2 mutants were sterile. Finally, although gpa2, gpa3, gpg1, gpg2, and gpg1 gpg2 mutants were fully virulent, gpa2 gpa3 mutants were attenuated for virulence in a murine model. Our study reveals a conserved but distinct signaling mechanism by two Galpha, one Gbeta, and two Ggamma proteins for pheromone responses, mating, and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans, and it also reiterates that the link between mating and virulence is not due to mating per se but rather to certain mating-pathway components that encode additional functions promoting virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lie Li
- Departments of *Pediatrics and
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Gui Shen
- Departments of *Pediatrics and
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Zheng-Guang Zhang
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Yan-Li Wang
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Jill K. Thompson
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Ping Wang
- Departments of *Pediatrics and
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, and
- The Research Institute for Children, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118
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48
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Abstract
G proteins are key intermediates in cellular signaling and act in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. The prevailing paradigm is that G protein subunits form a heterotrimeric complex and function principally at the plasma membrane. However, there is growing evidence for localization at, and signaling by, G proteins at intracellular compartments. Moreover, different cellular pools of G proteins may be composed of distinct subunit subtypes, including some binding partners that function in the place of G protein gamma subunits. An article in this issue of Molecular Pharmacology (Yost et al., p. 812) describes the use of an innovative fluorescent cell imaging technique to study interactions of the G protein beta(5) subunit with a panel of Ggamma subunits as well as regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins that contain a Ggamma-like subdomain. The approach used here provides a new strategy to elucidate the spatial and temporal properties of G proteins, including a growing number of atypical Gbetagamma pairings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne E Zeller
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Dr., CB 7260, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Zeller CE, Parnell SC, Dohlman HG. The RACK1 ortholog Asc1 functions as a G-protein beta subunit coupled to glucose responsiveness in yeast. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:25168-76. [PMID: 17591772 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m702569200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the prevailing paradigm, G-proteins are composed of three subunits, an alpha subunit with GTPase activity and a tightly associated betagamma subunit complex. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae there are two known Galpha proteins (Gpa1 and Gpa2) but only one Gbetagamma, which binds only to Gpa1. Here we show that the yeast ortholog of RACK1 (receptor for activated protein kinase C1) Asc1 functions as the Gbeta for Gpa2. As with other known Gbeta proteins, Asc1 has a 7-WD domain structure, interacts directly with the Galpha in a guanine nucleotide-dependent manner, and inhibits Galpha guanine nucleotide exchange activity. In addition, Asc1 binds to the effector enzyme adenylyl cyclase (Cyr1), and diminishes the production of cAMP in response to glucose stimulation. Thus, whereas Gpa2 promotes glucose signaling through elevated production of cAMP, Asc1 has opposing effects on these same processes. Our findings reveal the existence of an unusual Gbeta subunit, one having multiple functions within the cell in addition to serving as a signal transducer for cell surface receptors and intracellular effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne E Zeller
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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50
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Hsueh YP, Xue C, Heitman J. G protein signaling governing cell fate decisions involves opposing Galpha subunits in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Biol Cell 2007; 18:3237-49. [PMID: 17581859 PMCID: PMC1951760 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e07-02-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Communication between cells and their environments is often mediated by G protein-coupled receptors and cognate G proteins. In fungi, one such signaling cascade is the mating pathway triggered by pheromone/pheromone receptor recognition. Unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which expresses two Galpha subunits, most filamentous ascomycetes and basidiomycetes have three Galpha subunits. Previous studies have defined the Galpha subunit acting upstream of the cAMP-protein kinase A pathway, but it has been unclear which Galpha subunit is coupled to the pheromone receptor and response pathway. Here we report that in the pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, two Galpha subunits (Gpa2, Gpa3) sense pheromone and govern mating. gpa2 gpa3 double mutants, but neither gpa2 nor gpa3 single mutants, are sterile in bilateral crosses. By contrast, deletion of GPA3 (but not GPA2) constitutively activates pheromone response and filamentation. Expression of GPA2 and GPA3 is differentially regulated: GPA3 expression is induced by nutrient-limitation, whereas GPA2 is induced during mating. Based on the phenotype of dominant active alleles, Gpa2 and Gpa3 signal in opposition: Gpa2 promotes mating, whereas Gpa3 inhibits. The incorporation of an additional Galpha into the regulatory circuit enabled increased signaling complexity and facilitated cell fate decisions involving choice between yeast growth and filamentous asexual/sexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ping Hsueh
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Chaoyang Xue
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
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