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Santos TADO, Soares LW, Oliveira LN, Moraes D, Mendes MS, Soares CMDA, Bailão AM, Bailão MGS. Zinc Starvation Induces Cell Wall Remodeling and Activates the Antioxidant Defense System in Fonsecaea pedrosoi. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:118. [PMID: 38392790 PMCID: PMC10890210 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The survival of pathogenic fungi in the host after invasion depends on their ability to obtain nutrients, which include the transition metal zinc. This essential micronutrient is required to maintain the structure and function of various proteins and, therefore, plays a critical role in various biological processes. The host's nutritional immunity limits the availability of zinc to pathogenic fungi mainly by the action of calprotectin, a component of neutrophil extracellular traps. Here we investigated the adaptive responses of Fonsecaea pedrosoi to zinc-limiting conditions. This black fungus is the main etiological agent of chromoblastomycosis, a chronic neglected tropical disease that affects subcutaneous tissues. Following exposure to a zinc-limited environment, F. pedrosoi induces a high-affinity zinc uptake machinery, composed of zinc transporters and the zincophore Pra1. A proteomic approach was used to define proteins regulated by zinc deprivation. Cell wall remodeling, changes in neutral lipids homeostasis, and activation of the antioxidant system were the main strategies for survival in the hostile environment. Furthermore, the downregulation of enzymes required for sulfate assimilation was evident. Together, the adaptive responses allow fungal growth and development and reveals molecules that may be related to fungal persistence in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas Weba Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lucas Nojosa Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Dayane Moraes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Millena Silva Mendes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
| | - Mirelle Garcia Silva Bailão
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
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Meng F, Liu X, Li C, Peng X, Wang Q, Xu Q, Sui J, Zhao G, Lin J. Hinokitiol inhibits Aspergillus fumigatus by interfering with the cell membrane and cell wall. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1132042. [PMID: 37113218 PMCID: PMC10128913 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1132042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hinokitiol (β-thujaplicin) is an important component of the essential oil extracted from Chamaecyparis obtuse, which prevents the decay and decomposition of temple and shrine buildings in Japan. Hinokiol has been shown to have a detrimental effect on various fungi such as Candida albicans and saprophytic fungi. However how hinokitiol works against Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) has not been claimed. This study aims to investigate the adverse effects of hinokitiol on the disruption of the cell wall and cell membrane of A. fumigatus and to explore possible potential mechanisms or pathways. According to our results, hinokitiol negatively altered mycelium morphology, growth density, and cell plasma composition content. When incubated with human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), hinokitiol saw a safe effect with concentrations below 12 μg/ml. Hinokitiol was shown to increase the cell membrane's permeability by decreasing the cell membrane's ergosterol content. The integrity of the cell wall was disrupted, as well as a significant increase in chitin degradation and chitinase activity. As determined by RNA-seq results, subsequent analysis, and qRT-PCR, altered transcript levels of cell walls and cell membranes-related genes (such as eglC) illustrated how hinokitiol affected the genetic profile of A. fumigatus. With this study, we recommend hinokitiol as an effective anti-A. fumigatus agent by reducing the amounts of key components in the cell wall and membrane by preventing production and accelerating breakdown.
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Kim KH, Kang S, Seo H, Yun CW. AfSec1 is a signal peptidase and removes signal peptides of 1,3-β-glucanosyltransferases in Aspergillus fumigatus. Med Mycol 2022; 61:6993075. [PMID: 36657388 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify the infection mechanism of Aspergillus fumigatus, which is an opportunistic fungal pathogen, we analyzed the expression profile of the whole genome of A. fumigatus during the infection of murine macrophages. A previously reported RNA-seq data analysis showed that many genes involved in cell wall synthesis were upregulated during the infection process. Interestingly, AfSec1 (3g12840), which encodes a putative signal peptidase, was upregulated dramatically, and its putative target protein Gel1, which encodes a 1,3-β-glucanosyltransferase, was also upregulated. Instead of the AfSec1 deletion strain, the AfSec1-ΔP strain was constructed, in which the promoter region of AfSec1 was deleted, and AfSec1 expression was not detected in the AfSec1-ΔP strain. The expression of AfSec1 was recovered by the introduction of the promoter region (the AfSec1-ΔP/P strain). The nonprocessed form of Gel1 was identified in the AfSec1-ΔP strain, which lacked the promoter, but mature forms of Gel1 were found in the wild-type and in AfSec1-ΔP/P, which was the promoter complementation strain. In the plate assay, the AfSec1-ΔP strain showed higher sensitivity against caspofungin than the wild-type. However, compared with the wild-type, the deletion strain showed no difference in the sensitivity to other antifungal drugs, such as amphotericin B and voriconazole, which inhibit different targets compared with caspofungin. The AfSec1-ΔP strain exhibited ∼20% lower levels of β-glucan in the cell wall than the wild-type. Finally, the virulence decreased when the promoter region of AfSec1 was deleted, as observed in the murine infection test and conidia-killing assay using human macrophages and neutrophils. These results suggest that AfSec1 exerts signal peptidase activity on its target Gel1 and has an important role in fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Hwan Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suzie Kang
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Seo
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Won Yun
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,NeuroEsgel Co., Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea
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Liang L, Yang H, Wei S, Zhang S, Chen L, Hu Y, Lv Y. Putative C 2H 2 Transcription Factor AflZKS3 Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in Aspergillus flavus. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120883. [PMID: 36548780 PMCID: PMC9786134 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic secondary metabolite that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Some C2H2 transcription factors are associated with fungal growth and secondary metabolic regulation. In this study, we characterized the role of AflZKS3, a putative C2H2 transcription factor based on genome annotation, in the growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis of A. flavus and explored its possible mechanisms of action. Surprisingly, the protein was found to be located in the cytoplasm, and gene deletion in A. flavus resulted in defective growth and conidia formation, as well as increased sensitivity to the fluorescent brightener Calcofluor white, Congo red, NaCl, and sorbitol stress. Notably, the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 was completely inhibited in the ΔAflZKS3 deletion strain, and its ability to infect peanut and corn seeds was also reduced. RNA sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the ΔAflZKS3 strain compared with the control and complementation strains were mainly associated with growth, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Thus, AflZKS3 likely contributes to growth, cell development, and aflatoxin synthesis in A. flavus. These findings lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the roles of C2H2 transcription factors in A. flavus and provide a potential biocontrol target for preventing aflatoxin contamination.
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Gao L, Ouyang H, Pei C, Zhou H, Yang J, Jin C. Emp47 and Vip36 are required for polarized growth and protein trafficking between ER and Golgi apparatus in opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 158:103638. [PMID: 34798270 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing fatal invasive aspergillosis, N-glycosylation is vital for polarized growth. To investigate its mechanism, two putative L-type lectin genes emp47 (AFUB_032470) and vip36 (AFUB_027870) were identified in A. fumigatus. Deletion of the emp47 or vip36 gene resulted in delayed germination and abnormal polarity. Also, the Δemp47 displayed an increased resistance to azoles whereas the Δvip36 showed an increased susceptibility to amphotericin B. Secretome analysis revealed that 205 proteins were differentially secreted in the Δemp47 and 145 of them were reduced, while 153 proteins displayed a differential secretion and 134 of them were increased in the Δvip36 as compared with that of the wild-type strain. Also, potential cargo glycoproteins of Emp47 and Vip36 were identified by comparative secretome analysis. Our results suggest that Emp47 is responsible for the transport of proteins from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi, while Vip36 acts in protein retrieval from Golgi to ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Haomiao Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Caixia Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jinghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Cheng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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Souza JAM, Baltazar LDM, Carregal VM, Gouveia-Eufrasio L, de Oliveira AG, Dias WG, Campos Rocha M, Rocha de Miranda K, Malavazi I, Santos DDA, Frézard FJG, de Souza DDG, Teixeira MM, Soriani FM. Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus Extracellular Vesicles and Their Effects on Macrophages and Neutrophils Functions. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2008. [PMID: 31551957 PMCID: PMC6738167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been considered an alternative process for intercellular communication. EVs release by filamentous fungi and the role of vesicular secretion during fungus-host cells interaction remain unknown. Here, we identified the secretion of EVs from the pathogenic filamentous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. Analysis of the structure of EVs demonstrated that A. fumigatus produces round shaped bilayer structures ranging from 100 to 200 nm size, containing ergosterol and a myriad of proteins involved in REDOX, cell wall remodeling and metabolic functions of the fungus. We demonstrated that macrophages can phagocytose A. fumigatus EVs. Phagocytic cells, stimulated with EVs, increased fungal clearance after A. fumigatus conidia challenge. EVs were also able to induce the production of TNF-α and CCL2 by macrophages and a synergistic effect was observed in the production of these mediators when the cells were challenged with the conidia. In bone marrow-derived neutrophils (BMDN) treated with EVs, there was enhancement of the production of TNF-α and IL-1β in response to conidia. Together, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that A. fumigatus produces EVs containing a diverse set of proteins involved in fungal physiology and virulence. Moreover, EVs are biologically active and stimulate production of inflammatory mediators and fungal clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Amanda Marques Souza
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ludmila de Matos Baltazar
- Laboratório de Interação Microrganismo-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Virgínia Mendes Carregal
- Laboratório de Biofísica e Sistemas Nanoestruturados, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ludmila Gouveia-Eufrasio
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo de Oliveira
- Lab Circuitos Fisiológicos, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Wendell Girard Dias
- Plataforma de Microscopia Eletrônica Rudolf Barth, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Kildare Rocha de Miranda
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Daniel de Assis Santos
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Jean Georges Frézard
- Laboratório de Biofísica e Sistemas Nanoestruturados, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Daniele da Glória de Souza
- Laboratório de Interação Microrganismo-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Mauro Martins Teixeira
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Frederico Marianetti Soriani
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Kobayashi T, Maeda H, Takeuchi M, Yamagata Y. Deletion of admB gene encoding a fungal ADAM affects cell wall construction in Aspergillus oryzae. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2017; 81:1041-1050. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1270741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Mammals possess a unique signaling system based on the proteolytic mechanism of a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) on the cell surface. We found two genes encoding ADAMs in Aspergillus oryzae and named them admA and admB. We produced admA and admB deletion strains to elucidate their biological function and clarify whether fungal ADAMs play a similar role as in mammals. The ∆admA∆admB and ∆admB strains were sensitive to cell wall-perturbing agents, congo red, and calcofluor white. Moreover, the two strains showed significantly increased weights of total alkali-soluble fractions from the mycelial cell wall compared to the control strain. Furthermore, ∆admB showed MpkA phosphorylation at lower concentration of congo red stimulation than the control strain. However, the MpkA phosphorylation level was not different between ∆admB and the control strain without the stimulation. The results indicated that A. oryzae AdmB involved in the cell wall integrity without going through the MpkA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Kobayashi
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Maeda
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Michio Takeuchi
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Youhei Yamagata
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
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Wang J, Zhou H, Lu H, Du T, Luo Y, Wilson IBH, Jin C. Kexin-like endoprotease KexB is required for N-glycan processing, morphogenesis and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 76:57-69. [PMID: 25687931 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Kexin-like proteins belong to the subtilisin-like family of the proteinases that cleave secretory proproteins to their active forms. Several fungal kexin-like proteins have been investigated. The mutants lacking of kexin-like protein display strong phenotypes such as cell wall defect, abnormal polarity, and, in case of Candida albicans, diminished virulence. However, only several proteins have been confirmed as the substrates of kexin-like proteases in these fungal species. It still remains unclear how kexin-like proteins contribute to the morphogenesis in these fungal species. In this study, a kexB-null mutant of the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus was constructed and analyzed. The ΔkexB mutant showed retarded growth, temperature-sensitive cell wall defect, reduced conidia formation, and abnormal polarity. Biochemical analyses revealed that deletion of the kexB gene resulted in impaired N-glycan processing, activation of the MpkA-dependent cell wall integrity signaling pathway, and ER-stress. Results from in vivo assays demonstrated that the mutant exhibited an attenuated virulence in immunecompromised mice. Based on our results, the kexin-like endoprotease KexB was involved in the N-glycan processing, which provides a novel insight to understand how kexin-like protein affects the cell-wall modifying enzymes and therefore morphogenesis in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hua Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ting Du
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuanming Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Iain B H Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna A-1190, Austria
| | - Cheng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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Chung D, Thammahong A, Shepardson KM, Blosser SJ, Cramer RA. Endoplasmic reticulum localized PerA is required for cell wall integrity, azole drug resistance, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Mol Microbiol 2014; 92:1279-98. [PMID: 24779420 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
GPI-anchoring is a universal and critical post-translational protein modification in eukaryotes. In fungi, many cell wall proteins are GPI-anchored, and disruption of GPI-anchored proteins impairs cell wall integrity. After being synthesized and attached to target proteins, GPI anchors undergo modification on lipid moieties. In spite of its importance for GPI-anchored protein functions, our current knowledge of GPI lipid remodelling in pathogenic fungi is limited. In this study, we characterized the role of a putative GPI lipid remodelling protein, designated PerA, in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. PerA localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and loss of PerA leads to striking defects in cell wall integrity. A perA null mutant has decreased conidia production, increased susceptibility to triazole antifungal drugs, and is avirulent in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Interestingly, loss of PerA increases exposure of β-glucan and chitin content on the hyphal cell surface, but diminished TNF production by bone marrow-derived macrophages relative to wild type. Given the structural specificity of fungal GPI-anchors, which is different from humans, understanding GPI lipid remodelling and PerA function in A. fumigatus is a promising research direction to uncover a new fungal specific antifungal drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawoon Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
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Zhao W, Li C, Liang J, Sun S. The Aspergillus fumigatus β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase Gel7 plays a compensatory role in maintaining cell wall integrity under stress conditions. Glycobiology 2014; 24:418-27. [PMID: 24429506 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwu003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes fatal invasive aspergillosis among immunocompromised patients. The cell wall β-1,3-glucan is mainly elongated by β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase Gel family, which is vital for growth and virulence of A. fumigatus. Although seven members of Gels have been annotated, only Gel1, Gel2 and Gel4 were characterized. In this study, the function of Gel7 was analyzed for the first time, by constructing Δgel7, Δgel7Δcwh41 and Δgel1Δgel7Δcwh41 separately. Disruption of gel7 alone did not result in any obvious phenotype except an abnormality in conidia formation, whereas Δgel7Δcwh41 and Δgel1Δgel7Δcwh41 exhibited abnormal conidiogenesis, a heat-induced delay of germination and a severe decrease in β-1,3-glucan content. Our results suggested that the A. fumigatus β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase Gel7 was involved in conidiation and was compensated for the cell wall β-1,3-glucan defects when Gel1 and Gel2 lost their functions, especially at an elevated temperature.
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