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Lo TL, Wang Q, Nickson J, van Denderen BJW, Deveson Lucas D, Chai HX, Knott GJ, Weerasinghe H, Traven A. The C-terminal protein interaction domain of the chromatin reader Yaf9 is critical for pathogenesis of Candida albicans. mSphere 2024; 9:e0069623. [PMID: 38376217 PMCID: PMC10964406 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00696-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause a large health burden but are treated by only a handful of antifungal drug classes. Chromatin factors have emerged as possible targets for new antifungals. These targets include the reader proteins, which interact with posttranslationally modified histones to influence DNA transcription and repair. The YEATS domain is one such reader recognizing both crotonylated and acetylated histones. Here, we performed a detailed structure/function analysis of the Candida albicans YEATS domain reader Yaf9, a subunit of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase and the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex. We have previously demonstrated that the homozygous deletion mutant yaf9Δ/Δ displays growth defects and is avirulent in mice. Here we show that a YEATS domain mutant expected to inactivate Yaf9's chromatin binding does not display strong phenotypes in vitro, nor during infection of immune cells or in a mouse systemic infection model, with only a minor virulence reduction in vivo. In contrast to the YEATS domain mutation, deletion of the C-terminal domain of Yaf9, a protein-protein interaction module necessary for its interactions with SWR1 and NuA4, phenocopies the null mutant. This shows that the C-terminal domain is essential for Yaf9 roles in vitro and in vivo, including C. albicans virulence. Our study informs on the strategies for therapeutic targeting of Yaf9, showing that approaches taken for the mammalian YEATS domains by disrupting their chromatin binding might not be effective in C. albicans, and provides a foundation for studying YEATS proteins in human fungal pathogens.IMPORTANCEThe scarcity of available antifungal drugs and rising resistance demand the development of therapies with new modes of action. In this context, chromatin regulation may be a target for novel antifungal therapeutics. To realize this potential, we must better understand the roles of chromatin regulators in fungal pathogens. Toward this goal, here, we studied the YEATS domain chromatin reader Yaf9 in Candida albicans. Yaf9 uses the YEATS domain for chromatin binding and a C-terminal domain to interact with chromatin remodeling complexes. By constructing mutants in these domains and characterizing their phenotypes, our data indicate that the Yaf9 YEATS domain might not be a suitable therapeutic drug target. Instead, the Yaf9 C-terminal domain is critical for C. albicans virulence. Collectively, our study informs how a class of chromatin regulators performs their cellular and pathogenesis roles in C. albicans and reveals strategies to inhibit them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia L. Lo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Joshua Nickson
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Bryce J. W. van Denderen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Her Xiang Chai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Gavin J. Knott
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Harshini Weerasinghe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ana Traven
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Lim KK, Koh NZH, Zeng YB, Chuan JK, Raechell R, Chen ES. Resistance to Chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil Conferred by Modulation of Heterochromatic Integrity through Ino80 Function in Fission Yeast. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10687. [PMID: 37445861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310687] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a conventional chemotherapeutic drug widely used in clinics worldwide, but development of resistance that compromises responsiveness remains a major hurdle to its efficacy. The mechanism underlying 5-FU resistance is conventionally attributed to the disruption of nucleotide synthesis, even though research has implicated other pathways such as RNA processing and chromatin dysregulation. Aiming to clarify resistance mechanisms of 5-FU, we tested the response of a collection of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) null mutants, which confer multiple environmental factor responsiveness (MER). Our screen identified disruption of membrane transport, chromosome segregation and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to increase cellular susceptibility towards 5-FU. Conversely, we revealed several null mutants of Ino80 complex factors exhibited resistance to 5-FU. Furthermore, attenuation of Ino80 function via deleting several subunit genes reversed loss of chromosome-segregation fidelity in 5-FU in the loss-of-function mutant of the Argonaute protein, which regulates RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent maintenance of pericentromeric heterochromatin. Our study thus uncovered a critical role played by chromatin remodeling Ino80 complex factors in 5-FU resistance, which may constitute a possible target to modulate in reversing 5-FU resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Kiat Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Nathaniel Zhi Hao Koh
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Yi Bing Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Jun Kai Chuan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Raechell Raechell
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Ee Sin Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore 119228, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- NUS Graduate School-Integrative Sciences & Engineering Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
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Klein BJ, Feigerle JT, Zhang J, Ebmeier CC, Fan L, Singh RK, Wang WW, Schmitt LR, Lee T, Hansen KC, Liu WR, Wang YX, Strahl BD, Anthony Weil P, Kutateladze TG. Taf2 mediates DNA binding of Taf14. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3177. [PMID: 35676274 PMCID: PMC9177701 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30937-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly and function of the yeast general transcription factor TFIID complex requires specific contacts between its Taf14 and Taf2 subunits, however, the mechanism underlying these contacts remains unclear. Here, we determined the molecular and structural basis by which the YEATS and ET domains of Taf14 bind to the C-terminal tail of Taf2 and identified a unique DNA-binding activity of the linker region connecting the two domains. We show that in the absence of ligands the linker region of Taf14 is occluded by the surrounding domains, and therefore the DNA binding function of Taf14 is autoinhibited. Binding of Taf2 promotes a conformational rearrangement in Taf14, resulting in a release of the linker for the engagement with DNA and the nucleosome. Genetic in vivo data indicate that the association of Taf14 with both Taf2 and DNA is essential for transcriptional regulation. Our findings provide a basis for deciphering the role of individual TFIID subunits in mediating gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna J Klein
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jordan T Feigerle
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Jibo Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Lixin Fan
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, SAXS Core Facility of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Rohit K Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Wesley W Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Lauren R Schmitt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Thomas Lee
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, SAXS Core Facility of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Wenshe R Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yun-Xing Wang
- Protein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 27102, USA
| | - Brian D Strahl
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - P Anthony Weil
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Tatiana G Kutateladze
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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