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Boone CHT, Gutzmann DJ, Kramer JJ, Urbin SD, Navarathna DH, Atkin AL, Nickerson KW. Micronutrient availability alters Candida albicans growth and farnesol accumulation: implications for studies using RPMI-1640. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0157124. [PMID: 39315785 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01571-24] [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: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Science is challenging because we do not know what we do not know. Commercial chemicals are often marketed with >99% purity, but 0.5-1% impurity can impact results and cloud data interpretation. We recently developed an assay for farnesol and aromatic fusel alcohols from Candida albicans. During proof-of-concept experiments using RPMI-1640 growth media, the buffering compound was switched from MOPS obtained from Acros Organics to MOPS obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, both labeled 99% + purity. We observed a twofold decrease in growth, along with a three- to fivefold increase in farnesol production per cell upon the switch. ICP-MS showed that trace Mn(II) was present in Acros MOPS but absent in Sigma MOPS. Optimal growth was achieved by the addition of Mn(II), Zn(II), and Fe(II). We established upper and lower limits for Fe(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Mn(II) that allowed similar growth and then assessed 16 different mineral combinations in RPMI-1640 base media. The results show an increased production of farnesol and the aromatic fusel alcohols when Zn(II) is abundant, and a further increase in the aromatic fusel alcohols when both Fe(II) and Zn(II) are abundant. Finally, antifungal susceptibility testing displayed no significant difference between RPMI/MOPS with and without mineral supplementation. Supplemental Mn(II) was most needed for cell growth, while supplemental Zn(II) was most needed for the production of farnesol and the aromatic fusel alcohols. To avoid these artifacts due to metal contamination, we now use a modified RPMI supplemented with 1 mg/ L of Cu(II), Zn(II), Mn(II), and Fe(II). IMPORTANCE The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans is a major opportunistic pathogen of humans. RPMI-1640 is a chemically defined growth medium commonly used with C. albicans. We identified over 32,000 publications with keywords RPMI and C. albicans. Additionally, Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AFST) protocols in the United States (CLSI) and Europe (EUCAST) utilize RPMI as a base media to assess drug efficacy against clinical fungal isolates. RPMI contains many nutrients but no added trace metals. We found that the growth characteristics with RPMI were dependent on which MOPS buffer was chosen and the contamination of that buffer by trace levels of Mn(II) and Zn(II). Added Mn(II) was most needed for cell growth while added Zn(II) was most needed for secretion of farnesol and other signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory H T Boone
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Daniel J Gutzmann
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jaxon J Kramer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Shyanne D Urbin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Audrey L Atkin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kenneth W Nickerson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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Qu S, Chi SD, He ZM. The Development of Aspergillus flavus and Biosynthesis of Aflatoxin B1 are Regulated by the Golgi-Localized Mn 2+ Transporter Pmr1. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:1276-1291. [PMID: 38179648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms rely on diverse ion transport and trace elements to sustain growth, development, and secondary metabolism. Manganese (Mn2+) is essential for various biological processes and plays a crucial role in the metabolism of human cells, plants, and yeast. In Aspergillus flavus, we confirmed that Pmr1 localized in cis- and medial-Golgi compartments was critical in facilitating Mn2+ transport, fungal growth, development, secondary metabolism, and glycosylation. In comparison to the wild type, the Δpmr1 mutant displayed heightened sensitivity to environmental stress, accompanied by inhibited synthesis of aflatoxin B1, kojic acid, and a substantial reduction in pathogenicity toward peanuts and maize. Interestingly, the addition of exogenous Mn2+ effectively rectified the developmental and secondary metabolic defects in the Δpmr1 mutant. However, Mn2+ supplement failed to restore the growth and development of the Δpmr1Δgdt1 double mutant, which indicated that the Gdt1 compensated for the functional deficiency of pmr1. In addition, our results showed that pmr1 knockout leads to an upregulation of O-glycosyl-N-acetylglucose (O-GlcNAc) and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), while Mn2+ supplementation can restore the glycosylation in A. flavus. Collectively, this study indicates that the pmr1 regulates Mn2+ via Golgi and maintains growth and metabolism functions of A. flavus through regulation of the glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Qu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng-Da Chi
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhu-Mei He
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
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3
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Aoki K, Yamamoto K, Ohkuma M, Sugita T, Tanaka N, Takashima M. Hyphal Growth in Trichosporon asahii Is Accelerated by the Addition of Magnesium. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0424222. [PMID: 37102973 PMCID: PMC10269644 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04242-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal dimorphism involves two morphologies: a unicellular yeast cell and a multicellular hyphal form. Invasion of hyphae into human cells causes severe opportunistic infections. The transition between yeast and hyphal forms is associated with the virulence of fungi; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify factors that induce hyphal growth of Trichosporon asahii, a dimorphic basidiomycete that causes trichosporonosis. T. asahii showed poor growth and formed small cells containing large lipid droplets and fragmented mitochondria when cultivated for 16 h in a nutrient-deficient liquid medium. However, these phenotypes were suppressed via the addition of yeast nitrogen base. When T. asahii cells were cultivated in the presence of different compounds present in the yeast nitrogen base, we found that magnesium sulfate was a key factor for inducing cell elongation, and its addition dramatically restored hyphal growth in T. asahii. In T. asahii hyphae, vacuoles were enlarged, the size of lipid droplets was decreased, and mitochondria were distributed throughout the cell cytoplasm and adjacent to the cell walls. Additionally, hyphal growth was disrupted due to treatment with an actin inhibitor. The actin inhibitor latrunculin A disrupted the mitochondrial distribution even in hyphal cells. Furthermore, magnesium sulfate treatment accelerated hyphal growth in T. asahii for 72 h when the cells were cultivated in a nutrient-deficient liquid medium. Collectively, our results suggest that an increase in magnesium levels triggers the transition from the yeast to hyphal form in T. asahii. These findings will support studies on the pathogenesis of fungi and aid in developing treatments. IMPORTANCE Understanding the mechanism underlying fungal dimorphism is crucial to discern its invasion into human cells. Invasion is caused by the hyphal form rather than the yeast form; therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism of transition from the yeast to hyphal form. To study the transition mechanism, we utilized Trichosporon asahii, a dimorphic basidiomycete that causes severe trichosporonosis since there are fewer studies on T. asahii than on ascomycetes. This study suggests that an increase in Mg2+, the most abundant mineral in living cells, triggers growth of filamentous hyphae and increases the distribution of mitochondria throughout the cell cytoplasm and adjacent to the cell walls in T. asahii. Understanding the mechanism of hyphal growth triggered by Mg2+ increase will provide a model system to explore fungal pathogenicity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Aoki
- Laboratory of Yeast Systematics, Tokyo NODAI Research Institute, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Moriya Ohkuma
- Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugita
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoto Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masako Takashima
- Laboratory of Yeast Systematics, Tokyo NODAI Research Institute, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
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Campanella JEM, Candido TDS, Barbosa LCB, Gomes AAS, Leite CA, Higashi ES, Barbugli PA, Fontes MRDM, Bertolini MC. The Neurospora crassa PCL-1 cyclin is a PHO85-1 (PGOV) kinase partner that directs the complex to glycogen metabolism and is involved in calcium metabolism regulation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1078972. [PMID: 36620034 PMCID: PMC9815767 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1078972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclins are a family of proteins characterized by possessing a cyclin box domain that mediates binding to cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) partners. In this study, the search for a partner cyclin of the PHO85-1 CDK retrieved PCL-1 an ortholog of yeast Pcls (for Pho85 cyclins) that performs functions common to Pcls belonging to different cyclin families. We show here that PCL-1, as a typical cyclin, is involved in cell cycle control and cell progression. In addition, PCL-1 regulates glycogen metabolism; Δpcl-1 cells accumulate higher glycogen levels than wild-type cells and the glycogen synthase (GSN) enzyme is less phosphorylated and, therefore, more active in the mutant cells. Together with PHO85-1, PCL-1 phosphorylates in vitro GSN at the Ser636 amino acid residue. Modeling studies identified PHO85-1 and PCL-1 as a CDK/cyclin complex, with a conserved intermolecular region stabilized by hydrophobic and polar interactions. PCL-1 is also involved in calcium and NaCl stress response. Δpcl-1 cells are sensitive to high NaCl concentration; on the contrary, they grow better and overexpress calcium responsive genes under high calcium chloride concentration compared to the wild-type strain. The expression of the calcium-responsive CRZ-1 transcription factor is modulated by PCL-1, and this transcription factor seems to be less phosphorylated in Δpcl-1 cells since exhibits nuclear location in these cells in the absence of calcium. Our results show that PCL-1 locates at different cell regions suggesting that it may determine its activity by controlling its intracellular location and reveal an interesting functional divergence between yeast and filamentous fungus cyclins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonatas Erick Maimoni Campanella
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago de Souza Candido
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Bertucci Barbosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antoniel Augusto Severo Gomes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Andréa Leite
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erika Silva Higashi
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Aboud Barbugli
- Departamento de Materiais Dentários e Prótese, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Roberto de Matos Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Célia Bertolini
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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Regulation of Hsp80 involved in the acquisition of induced thermotolerance, and NCA-2 involved in calcium stress tolerance by the calcineurin-CRZ-1 signaling pathway in Neurospora crassa. Mycol Prog 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11557-022-01833-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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6
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Wu C, Guo Z, Zhang M, Chen H, Peng M, Abubakar YS, Zheng H, Yun Y, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zhou J. Golgi-localized calcium/manganese transporters FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 regulate fungal development and virulence by maintaining Ca 2+ and Mn 2+ homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4623-4640. [PMID: 35837846 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium and manganese transporters play important roles in regulating Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis in cells, which is necessary for the normal physiological activities of eukaryotes. Gdt1 and Pmr1 function as calcium/manganese transporters in the Golgi apparatus. However, the functions of Gdt1 and Pmr1 have not been previously characterized in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Here, we identified and characterized the biological functions of FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 in F. graminearum. Our study shows that FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 are both localized to the cis- and medial-Golgi. Disruption of FgGdt1 or FgPmr1 in F. graminearum caused serious defects in vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual development and significantly decreased virulence in wheat but increased deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Importantly, FgGdt1 is involved in Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis and the severe phenotypic defects of the ΔFggdt1 mutant were largely due to loss of FgGdt1 function in Mn2+ transportation. FgGdt1-mCherry colocalizes with FgPmr1-GFP at the Golgi, and FgGDT1 exerts its biological function upstream of FgPMR1. Taken together, our results collectively demonstrate that the cis- and medial-Golgi-localized proteins FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 regulate Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis of the Golgi apparatus, and this function is important in modulating the growth, development, DON biosynthesis and pathogenicity of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congxian Wu
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhongkun Guo
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meiru Zhang
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huilin Chen
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minghui Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Liu X, Jiang X, Sun H, Du J, Luo Y, Huang J, Qin L. Evaluating the Mode of Antifungal Action of Heat-Stable Antifungal Factor (HSAF) in Neurospora crassa. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030252. [PMID: 35330254 PMCID: PMC8951606 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) isolated from Lysobacter enzymogenes has shown a broad-spectrum of antifungal activities. However, little is known about its mode of action. In this study, we used the model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa to investigate the antifungal mechanism of HSAF. We first used HSAF to treat the N. crassa strain at different time points. Spore germination, growth phenotype and differential gene expression analysis were conducted by utilizing global transcriptional profiling combined with genetic and physiological analyses. Our data showed that HSAF could significantly inhibit the germination and aerial hyphae growth of N. crassa. RNA-seq analysis showed that a group of genes, associated with cell wall formation and remodeling, were highly activated. Screening of N. crassa gene deletion mutants combined with scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that three fungal cell wall integrity-related genes played an important role in the interaction between N. crassa and L. enzymogens. In addition, Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), accompanied by confocal microscopy observation revealed that HSAF could trigger autophagy-mediated degradation and eventually result in cell death in N. crassa. The findings of this work provided new insights into the interactions between the predatory Lysobacter and its fungal prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China
| | - Xianzhang Jiang
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
| | - Haowen Sun
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jiawen Du
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yuhang Luo
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jianzhong Huang
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (L.Q.)
| | - Lina Qin
- National Joint Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.L.); (X.J.); (H.S.); (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (L.Q.)
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Cellular Calcium Levels Influenced by NCA-2 Impact Circadian Period Determination in Neurospora. mBio 2021; 12:e0149321. [PMID: 34182778 PMCID: PMC8262947 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01493-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium signaling has been implicated in the control of a variety of circadian processes in animals and plants, but its role in microbial clocks has remained largely cryptic. To examine the role of intracellular Ca2+ in the Neurospora clock, we screened mutants with knockouts of calcium transporter genes and identified a gene encoding a calcium exporter, nca-2, uniquely as having significant period effects. The loss of NCA-2 results in an increase in the cytosolic calcium level, and this leads to hyper-phosphorylation of core clock components, FRQ and WC-1, and a short period, as measured by both the core oscillator and the overt clock. Genetic analyses showed that mutations in certain frq phospho-sites and in Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent kinase 2 (camk-2) are epistatic to nca-2 in controlling the pace of the oscillator. These data are consistent with a model in which elevated intracellular Ca2+ leads to the increased activity of CAMK-2, leading to enhanced FRQ phosphorylation, accelerated closure of the circadian feedback loop, and a shortened circadian period length. At a mechanistic level, some CAMKs undergo more auto-phosphorylations in the Δnca-2 mutant, consistent with high calcium levels in the Δnca-2 mutant influencing the enzymatic activities of CAMKs. NCA-2 interacts with multiple proteins, including CSP-6, a protein known to be required for circadian output. Most importantly, the expression of nca-2 is circadian clock-controlled at both the transcriptional and translational levels, and this in combination with the period effects seen in strains lacking NCA-2 firmly places calcium signaling within the larger circadian system, where it acts as both an input to and an output from the core clock.
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Functional Coupling between the Unfolded Protein Response and Endoplasmic Reticulum/Golgi Ca 2+-ATPases Promotes Stress Tolerance, Cell Wall Biosynthesis, and Virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.01060-20. [PMID: 32487759 PMCID: PMC7267887 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01060-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many species of pathogenic fungi deploy the unfolded protein response (UPR) to expand the folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in proportion to the demand for virulence-related proteins that traffic through the secretory pathway. Although Ca2+ plays a pivotal role in ER function, the mechanism by which transcriptional upregulation of the protein folding machinery is coordinated with Ca2+ homeostasis is incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the link between the UPR and genes encoding P-type Ca2+-ATPases in the human-pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus We demonstrate that acute ER stress increases transcription of the srcA gene, encoding a member of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) family, as well as that of pmrA, encoding a secretory pathway Ca2+-ATPase (SPCA) in the Golgi membrane. Loss of the UPR transcription factor HacA prevented the induction of srcA and pmrA transcription during ER stress, defining these ER/Golgi Ca2+ pumps as novel downstream targets of this pathway. While deletion of srcA alone caused no major deficiencies, a ΔsrcA/ΔpmrA mutant displayed a severe polarity defect, was hypersensitive to ER stress, and showed attenuated virulence. In addition, cell wall analyses revealed a striking reduction in mannose levels in the absence of both Ca2+ pumps. The ΔhacA mutant was hypersensitive to agents that block calcineurin-dependent signaling, consistent with a functional coupling between the UPR and Ca2+ homeostasis. Together, these findings demonstrate that the UPR integrates the need for increased levels of chaperone and folding enzymes with an influx of Ca2+ into the secretory pathway to support fungal growth, stress adaptation, and pathogenicity.IMPORTANCE The UPR is an intracellular signal transduction pathway that maintains homeostasis of the ER. The pathway is also tightly linked to the expression of virulence-related traits in diverse species of human-pathogenic and plant-pathogenic fungal species, including the predominant mold pathogen infecting humans, Aspergillus fumigatus Despite advances in the understanding of UPR signaling, the linkages and networks that are governed by this pathway are not well defined. In this study, we revealed that the UPR is a major driving force for stimulating Ca2+ influx at the ER and Golgi membranes and that the coupling between the UPR and Ca2+ import is important for virulence, cell wall biosynthesis, and resistance to antifungal compounds that inhibit Ca2+ signaling.
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10
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Lange M, Peiter E. Calcium Transport Proteins in Fungi: The Phylogenetic Diversity of Their Relevance for Growth, Virulence, and Stress Resistance. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3100. [PMID: 32047484 PMCID: PMC6997533 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The key players of calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and Ca2+ signal generation, which are Ca2+ channels, Ca2+/H+ antiporters, and Ca2+-ATPases, are present in all fungi. Their coordinated action maintains a low Ca2+ baseline, allows a fast increase in free Ca2+ concentration upon a stimulus, and terminates this Ca2+ elevation by an exponential decrease – hence forming a Ca2+ signal. In this respect, the Ca2+ signaling machinery is conserved in different fungi. However, does the similarity of the genetic inventory that shapes the Ca2+ peak imply that if “you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” in terms of physiological relevance? Individual studies have focused mostly on a single species, and mechanisms elucidated in few model organisms are usually extrapolated to other species. This mini-review focuses on the physiological relevance of the machinery that maintains Ca2+ homeostasis for growth, virulence, and stress responses. It reveals common and divergent functions of homologous proteins in different fungal species. In conclusion, for the physiological role of these Ca2+ transport proteins, “seen one,” in many cases, does not mean: “seen them all.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lange
- Plant Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Edgar Peiter
- Plant Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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11
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Gohain D, Tamuli R. Calcineurin responsive zinc-finger-1 binds to a unique promoter sequence to upregulate neuronal calcium sensor-1, whose interaction with MID-1 increases tolerance to calcium stress in Neurospora crassa. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:1510-1528. [PMID: 30825330 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
We studied the molecular mechanism of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) signaling pathway for tolerance to Ca2+ stress in Neurospora crassa. Increasing concentration of Ca2+ increased the expression of ncs-1; however, the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 severely reduced ncs-1 mRNA transcript levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies revealed that the transcription factor calcineurin responsive zinc finger-1 (CRZ-1) binds to the ncs-1 promoter, and CRZ-1 binding upregulated ncs-1 expression under high Ca2+ concentrations. These results suggested the regulation of NCS-1 function through calcineurin- CRZ-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that the CRZ-1 binds specifically to an 8 bp sequence 5'-CCTTCACA-3' in the ncs-1 promoter 216 bp upstream of the ATG start codon. We also showed that NCS-1 binds to the Ca2+ permeable channel MID-1 for tolerance to Ca2+ stress. Therefore, CRZ-1 binds to a unique sequence in the ncs-1 promoter, causing upregulation of NCS-1 that binds to MID-1 for tolerance to Ca2+ stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibakar Gohain
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781 039, Assam, India
| | - Ranjan Tamuli
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781 039, Assam, India
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Chen Y, Shen Y, Wang W, Wei D. Mn 2+ modulates the expression of cellulase genes in Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 via calcium signaling. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:54. [PMID: 29507606 PMCID: PMC5831609 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1055-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 is one of the most vital fungi for the production of cellulases, which can be used for biofuel production from lignocellulose. Nevertheless, the mechanism of transmission of external stimuli and signals in modulating cellulase production in T. reesei Rut-C30 remains unclear. Calcium is a known second messenger regulating cellulase gene expression in T. reesei. RESULTS In this study, we found that a biologically relevant extracellular Mn2+ concentration markedly stimulates cellulase production, total protein secretion, and the intracellular Mn2+ concentration of Rut-C30, a cellulase hyper-producing strain of T. reesei. Furthermore, we identified two Mn2+ transport proteins, designated as TPHO84-1 and TPHO84-2, indicating that they are upstream in the signaling pathway that leads to cellulase upregulation. We also found that Mn2+ induced a significant increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, and that this increased cytosolic Ca2+ might be a key step in the Mn2+-mediated regulation of cellulase gene transcription and production. The utilization of LaCl3 to block plasma membrane Ca2+ channels, and deletion of crz1 (calcineurin-responsive zinc finger transcription factor 1) to interrupt calcium signaling, showed that Mn2+ exerts the induction of cellulase genes via calcium channels and calcium signaling. To substantiate this, we identified a Ca2+/Mn2+ P-type ATPase, TPMR1, which could play a pivotal role in Ca2+/Mn2+ homeostasis and Mn2+ induction of cellulase genes in T. reesei Rut-C30. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results revealed for the first time that Mn2+ stimulates cellulase production, and demonstrates that Mn2+ upregulates cellulase genes via calcium channels and calcium signaling. Our research also provides a direction to facilitate enhanced cellulase production by T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Chen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Yaling Shen
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, New World Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, P.O.B. 311, Shanghai, 200237 China
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Kamei M, Tsukagoshi Y, Banno S, Ichiishi A, Fukumori F, Fujimura M. Phenotypic abnormalities of fr , sp , and och-1 single mutants are suppressed by loss of putative GPI-phospholipase A2 in Neurospora crassa. MYCOSCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.myc.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Keni S, Punekar NS. Contribution of arginase to manganese metabolism of Aspergillus niger. Biometals 2015; 29:95-106. [PMID: 26679485 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-015-9900-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aspects of manganese metabolism during normal and acidogenic growth of Aspergillus niger were explored. Arginase from this fungus was a Mn[II]-enzyme. The contribution of the arginase protein towards A. niger manganese metabolism was investigated using arginase knockout (D-42) and arginase over-expressing (ΔXCA-29) strains of A. niger NCIM 565. The Mn[II] contents of various mycelial fractions were found in the order: D-42 strain < parent strain < ΔXCA-29 strain. While the soluble fraction forms 60% of the total mycelial Mn[II] content, arginase accounted for a significant fraction of this soluble Mn[II] pool. Changes in the arginase levels affected the absolute mycelial Mn[II] content but not its distribution in the various mycelial fractions. The A. niger mycelia harvested from acidogenic growth media contain substantially less Mn[II] as compared to those from normal growth media. Nevertheless, acidogenic mycelia harbor considerable Mn[II] levels and a functional arginase. Altered levels of mycelial arginase protein did not significantly influence citric acid production. The relevance of arginase to cellular Mn[II] pool and homeostasis was evaluated and the results suggest that arginase regulation could occur via manganese availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarita Keni
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Narayan S Punekar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.
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15
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Characterization of a Novel Prevacuolar Compartment in Neurospora crassa. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2015; 14:1253-63. [PMID: 26453652 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00128-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Using confocal microscopy, we observed ring-like organelles, similar in size to nuclei, in the hyphal tip of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. These organelles contained a subset of vacuolar proteins. We hypothesize that they are novel prevacuolar compartments (PVCs). We examined the locations of several vacuolar enzymes and of fluorescent compounds that target the vacuole. Vacuolar membrane proteins, such as the vacuolar ATPase (VMA-1) and the polyphosphate polymerase (VTC-4), were observed in the PVCs. A pigment produced by adenine auxotrophs, used to visualize vacuoles, also accumulated in PVCs. Soluble enzymes of the vacuolar lumen, alkaline phosphatase and carboxypeptidase Y, were not observed in PVCs. The fluorescent molecule Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid diacetate, succinimidyl ester (carboxy-DFFDA) accumulated in vacuoles and in a subset of PVCs, suggesting maturation of PVCs from the tip to distal regions. Three of the nine Rab GTPases in N. crassa, RAB-2, RAB-4, and RAB-7, localized to the PVCs. RAB-2 and RAB-4, which have similar amino acid sequences, are present in filamentous fungi but not in yeasts, and no function has previously been reported for these Rab GTPases in fungi. PVCs are highly pleomorphic, producing tubular projections that subsequently become detached. Dynein and dynactin formed globular clusters enclosed inside the lumen of PVCs. The size, structure, dynamic behavior, and protein composition of the PVCs appear to be significantly different from those of the well-studied prevacuolar compartment of yeasts.
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16
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Sánchez-León E, Bowman B, Seidel C, Fischer R, Novick P, Riquelme M. The Rab GTPase YPT-1 associates with Golgi cisternae and Spitzenkörper microvesicles inNeurospora crassa. Mol Microbiol 2014; 95:472-90. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eddy Sánchez-León
- Department of Microbiology; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE); Ensenada Baja California Mexico
| | - Barry Bowman
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology; University of California; Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Constanze Seidel
- Department of Applied Microbiology; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Applied Microbiology; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Peter Novick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE); Ensenada Baja California Mexico
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Martín JF. Calcium-containing phosphopeptides pave the secretory pathway for efficient protein traffic and secretion in fungi. Microb Cell Fact 2014; 13:117. [PMID: 25205075 PMCID: PMC4180148 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-014-0117-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) containing chelated calcium drastically increase the secretion of extracellular homologous and heterologous proteins in filamentous fungi. Casein phosphopeptides released by digestion of alpha - and beta-casein are rich in phosphoserine residues (SerP). They stimulate enzyme secretion in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance the immune response in mammals, and are used as food supplements. It is well known that casein phosphopeptides transport Ca2+ across the membranes and play an important role in Ca2+ homeostasis in the cells. Addition of CPPs drastically increases the production of heterologous proteins in Aspergillus as host for industrial enzyme production. Recent proteomics studies showed that CPPs alter drastically the vesicle-mediated secretory pathway in filamentous fungi, apparently because they change the calcium concentration in organelles that act as calcium reservoirs. In the organelles calcium homeostasis a major role is played by the pmr1 gene, that encodes a Ca2+/Mn2+ transport ATPase, localized in the Golgi complex; this transporter controls the balance between intra-Golgi and cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations. A Golgi-located casein kinase (CkiA) governs the ER to Golgi directionality of the movement of secretory proteins by interacting with the COPII coat of secretory vesicles when they reach the Golgi. Mutants defective in the casein-2 kinase CkiA show abnormal targeting of some secretory proteins, including cytoplasmic membrane amino acid transporters that in ckiA mutants are miss-targeted to vacuolar membranes. Interestingly, addition of CPPs increases a glyceraldehyde-3-phpshate dehydrogenase protein that is known to associate with microtubules and act as a vesicle/membrane fusogenic agent. In summary, CPPs alter the protein secretory pathway in fungi adapting it to a deregulated protein traffic through the organelles and vesicles what results in a drastic increase in secretion of heterologous and also of some homologous proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Martín
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
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Gonçalves AP, Monteiro J, Lucchi C, Kowbel DJ, Cordeiro JM, Correia-de-Sá P, Rigden DJ, Glass NL, Videira A. Extracellular calcium triggers unique transcriptional programs and modulates staurosporine-induced cell death in Neurospora crassa. MICROBIAL CELL 2014; 1:289-302. [PMID: 28357255 PMCID: PMC5349132 DOI: 10.15698/mic2014.09.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in the intracellular levels of calcium are a common response to cell death stimuli in animals and fungi and, particularly, in the Neurospora crassa response to staurosporine. We highlight the importance of the extracellular availability of Ca2+ for this response. Limitation of the ion in the culture medium further sensitizes cells to the drug and results in increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conversely, an approximately 30-fold excess of external Ca2+ leads to increased drug tolerance and lower ROS generation. In line with this, distinct staurosporine-induced cytosolic Ca2+ signaling profiles were observed in the absence or presence of excessive external Ca2+. High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that different concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ define distinct transcriptional programs. Our transcriptional profiling also pointed to two putative novel Ca2+-binding proteins, encoded by the NCU08524 and NCU06607 genes, and provides a reference dataset for future investigations on the role of Ca2+ in fungal biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gonçalves
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Monteiro
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Chiara Lucchi
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - David J Kowbel
- Plant and Microbial Biology Department, The University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - J M Cordeiro
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; UMIB-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Correia-de-Sá
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; UMIB-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel J Rigden
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - N L Glass
- Plant and Microbial Biology Department, The University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
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