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Agirrezabala Z, Guruceaga X, Martin-Vicente A, Otamendi A, Fagoaga A, Fortwendel JR, Espeso EA, Etxebeste O. Identification and functional characterization of the putative members of the CTDK-1 kinase complex as regulators of growth and development in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. mBio 2023; 14:e0245223. [PMID: 37943062 PMCID: PMC10746219 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02452-23] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus has been included by the World Health Organization in the priority list of fungal pathogens because (i) it causes 90% of invasive aspergillosis cases, with a high mortality rate, and (ii) infections are becoming increasingly resistant to azole antifungals. A. nidulans is an opportunistic pathogen and a saprotroph which has served during the last 80 years as a reference system for filamentous fungi. Here, we characterized the role in morphogenesis and development of the putative transcriptional cyclin/kinase complex CTDK-1 in both aspergilli. The null mutants of the corresponding genes showed delayed germination, aberrant conidiophore development, and inhibition of cleistothecia production. While in higher eukaryotes this complex is formed only by a cyclin and a kinase, the fungal complex would incorporate a fungal-specific third component, FlpB, which would enable the interaction between the kinase (Stk47) and the cyclin (FlpA) and may be used as a target for antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z. Agirrezabala
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - X. Guruceaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - A. Martin-Vicente
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - A. Otamendi
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - A. Fagoaga
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - J. R. Fortwendel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - E. A. Espeso
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - O. Etxebeste
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain
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Paolillo V, Jenkinson C, Horio T, Oakley B. Cyclins in aspergilli: Phylogenetic and functional analyses of group I cyclins. Stud Mycol 2018; 91:1-22. [PMID: 30104814 PMCID: PMC6078057 DOI: 10.1016/j.simyco.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified the cyclin domain-containing proteins encoded by the genomes of 17 species of Aspergillus as well as 15 members of other genera of filamentous ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that the cyclins fall into three groups, as in other eukaryotic phyla, and, more significantly, that they are remarkably conserved in these fungi. All 32 species examined, for example, have three group I cyclins, cyclins that are particularly important because they regulate the cell cycle, and these are highly conserved. Within the group I cyclins there are three distinct clades, and each fungus has a single member of each clade. These findings are in marked contrast to the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Candida albicans, which have more numerous group I cyclins. These results indicate that findings on cyclin function made with a model Aspergillus species, such as A. nidulans, are likely to apply to other Aspergilli and be informative for a broad range of filamentous ascomycetes. In this regard, we note that the functions of only one Aspergillus group I cyclin have been analysed (NimECyclin B of A. nidulans). We have consequently carried out an analysis of the members of the other two clades using A. nidulans as our model. We have found that one of these cyclins, PucA, is essential, but deletion of PucA in a strain carrying a deletion of CdhA, an activator of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), is not lethal. These data, coupled with data from heterokaryon rescue experiments, indicate that PucA is an essential G1/S cyclin that is required for the inactivation of the APC/C-CdhA, which, in turn, allows the initiation of the S phase of the cell cycle. Our data also reveal that PucA has additional, non-essential, roles in the cell cycle in interphase. The A. nidulans member of the third clade (AN2137) has not previously been named or analyzed. We designate this gene clbA. ClbA localizes to kinetochores from mid G2 until just prior to chromosomal condensation. Deletion of clbA does not affect viability. However, by using a regulatable promoter system new to Aspergillus, we have found that expression of a version of ClbA in which the destruction box sequences have been removed is lethal and causes a mitotic arrest and a high frequency of non-disjunction. Thus, although ClbA is not essential, its timely destruction is essential for viability, chromosomal disjunction, and successful completion of mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Paolillo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - C.B. Jenkinson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - T. Horio
- Department of Natural Sciences, Nippon Sport Science University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - B.R. Oakley
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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Nie X, Li B, Wang S. Epigenetic and Posttranslational Modifications in Regulating the Biology of Aspergillus Species. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2018; 105:191-226. [PMID: 30342722 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic and posttranslational modifications have been proved to participate in multiple cellular processes and suggested to be an important regulatory mechanism on transcription of genes in eukaryotes. However, our knowledge about epigenetic and posttranslational modifications mainly comes from the studies of yeasts, plants, and animals. Recently, epigenetic and posttranslational modifications have also raised concern for the relevance of regulating fungal biology in Aspergillus. Emerging evidence indicates that these modifications could be a connection between genetic elements and environmental factors, and their combined effects may finally lead to fungal phenotypical changes. This article describes the advances in typical DNA and protein modifications in the genus Aspergillus, focusing on methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and neddylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Nie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shihua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Evolutionary conservation of a core fungal phosphate homeostasis pathway coupled to development in Blastocladiella emersonii. Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 115:20-32. [PMID: 29627365 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae elicits a transcriptional response to phosphate (Pi) depletion. To determine the origins of the phosphate response (PHO) system, we bioinformatically identified putative PHO components in the predicted proteomes of diverse fungi. Our results suggest that the PHO system is ancient; however, components have been expanded or lost in different fungal lineages. To show that a similar physiological response is present in deeply-diverging fungi we examined the transcriptional and physiological response of PHO genes to Pi depletion in the blastocladiomycete Blastocladiella emersonii. Our physiological experiments indicate that B. emersonii relies solely on high-affinity Na+-independent Pho84-like transporters. In response to Pi depletion, BePho84 paralogues were 4-8-fold transcriptionally upregulated, whereas several other PHO homologues like phosphatases and vacuolar transporter chaperone (VTC) complex components show 2-3-fold transcriptional upregulation. Since Pi has been shown to be important during the development of B. emersonii, we sought to determine if PHO genes are differentially regulated at different lifecycle stages. We demonstrate that a similar set of PHO transporters and phosphatases are upregulated at key points during B. emersonii development. Surprisingly, some genes upregulated during Pi depletion, including VTC components, are repressed at these key stages of development indicating that PHO genes are regulated by different pathways in different developmental and environmental situations. Overall, our findings indicate that a complex PHO network existed in the ancient branches of the fungi, persists in diverse extant fungi, and that this ancient network is likely to be involved in development and cell cycle regulation.
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Yu Z, Cai M, Hu W, Zhang Y, Zhou J, Zhou X, Zhang Y. A cyclin-like protein, ClgA, regulates development in Aspergillus nidulans. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:462-7. [PMID: 24794637 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A cyclin-like protein from Aspergillus nidulans, ClgA, was identified. Its cyclin-like subunit shares 28.3% identity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Clg1. Deletion of clgA slightly influenced fungal growth, but repressed asexual development and made it more sensitive to temperature variations. It also downregulated expression of brlA, abaA and wetA, which are critically responsible for asexual development. Sexual development was impaired in the ΔclgA mutant. Its related genes, veA and nosA, were expressed weakly in the ΔclgA mutant, while nsdD expression showed the opposite behavior. Generally, ClgA functioned differently from other reported cyclins in development of A. nidulans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Jiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Xiangshan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
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Evidence that two Pcl-like cyclins control Cdk9 activity during cell differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans asexual development. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2012; 12:23-36. [PMID: 23104571 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00181-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are usually involved in cell cycle regulation. However, Cdk9 is an exception and promotes RNA synthesis through phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). The CTD is comprised of repeating heptapeptides, in which serine residues at positions 2, 5, and 7 are of crucial importance. Ser5 phosphorylation causes transcription initiation and promoter escape. However, RNAPII pauses 20 to 50 bp downstream from the transcription start site, until Cdk9 phosphorylates Ser2. This event relieves the checkpoint and promotes the processivity of elongation. Here we present evidence that in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, a Cdk9 homologue, PtkA, serves specific functions in conidiophore development. It was previously shown that PtkA interacts with two cyclins, PclA and the T cyclin PchA. Using yeast two-hybrid screens, we identified a third cyclin, PclB, and a kinase, PipA(Bud32). Both proteins were expressed in hyphae and in conidiophores, but interaction between each protein and PtkA was restricted to the conidiophores. Deletion of pchA caused a severe growth defect, and deletion of pipA was lethal, suggesting basic functions in PtkA-dependent gene transcription. In contrast, deletion of pclB in combination with deletion of pclA essentially caused a block in spore formation. We present evidence that the phosphorylation status of the CTD of RNA polymerase II in the conidiophore changes upon deletion of pclA or pclB. Our results suggest that tissue-specific modulation of Cdk9 activity by PclA and PclB is required for proper differentiation.
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