1
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Zhang Y, Cai H, Chen R, Feng J. DNA Damage Checkpoints Govern Global Gene Transcription and Exhibit Species-Specific Regulation on HOF1 in Candida albicans. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:387. [PMID: 38921373 PMCID: PMC11204775 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060387] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA damage checkpoints are essential for coordinating cell cycle arrest and gene transcription during DNA damage response. Exploring the targets of checkpoint kinases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi has expanded our comprehension of the downstream pathways involved in DNA damage response. While the function of checkpoint kinases, specifically Rad53, is well documented in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, their targets remain poorly understood. In this study, we explored the impact of deleting RAD53 on the global transcription profiles and observed alterations in genes associated with ribosome biogenesis, DNA replication, and cell cycle. However, the deletion of RAD53 only affected a limited number of known DNA damage-responsive genes, including MRV6 and HMX1. Unlike S. cerevisiae, the downregulation of HOF1 transcription in C. albicans under the influence of Methyl Methanesulfonate (MMS) did not depend on Dun1 but still relied on Rad53 and Rad9. In addition, the transcription factor Mcm1 was identified as a regulator of HOF1 transcription, with evidence of dynamic binding to its promoter region; however, this dynamic binding was interrupted following the deletion of RAD53. Furthermore, Rad53 was observed to directly interact with the promoter region of HOF1, thus suggesting a potential role in governing its transcription. Overall, checkpoints regulate global gene transcription in C. albicans and show species-specific regulation on HOF1; these discoveries improve our understanding of the signaling pathway related to checkpoints in this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jinrong Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226007, China; (Y.Z.); (H.C.); (R.C.)
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2
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O'Meara MJ, Rapala JR, Nichols CB, Alexandre AC, Billmyre RB, Steenwyk JL, Alspaugh JA, O'Meara TR. CryptoCEN: A Co-Expression Network for Cryptococcus neoformans reveals novel proteins involved in DNA damage repair. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011158. [PMID: 38359090 PMCID: PMC10901339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Elucidating gene function is a major goal in biology, especially among non-model organisms. However, doing so is complicated by the fact that molecular conservation does not always mirror functional conservation, and that complex relationships among genes are responsible for encoding pathways and higher-order biological processes. Co-expression, a promising approach for predicting gene function, relies on the general principal that genes with similar expression patterns across multiple conditions will likely be involved in the same biological process. For Cryptococcus neoformans, a prevalent human fungal pathogen greatly diverged from model yeasts, approximately 60% of the predicted genes in the genome lack functional annotations. Here, we leveraged a large amount of publicly available transcriptomic data to generate a C. neoformans Co-Expression Network (CryptoCEN), successfully recapitulating known protein networks, predicting gene function, and enabling insights into the principles influencing co-expression. With 100% predictive accuracy, we used CryptoCEN to identify 13 new DNA damage response genes, underscoring the utility of guilt-by-association for determining gene function. Overall, co-expression is a powerful tool for uncovering gene function, and decreases the experimental tests needed to identify functions for currently under-annotated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J O'Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jackson R Rapala
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Connie B Nichols
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - A Christina Alexandre
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - R Blake Billmyre
- Departments of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences/Infectious Disease, College of Pharmacy/College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jacob L Steenwyk
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Teresa R O'Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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3
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Wang JJT, Steenwyk JL, Brem RB. Natural trait variation across Saccharomycotina species. FEMS Yeast Res 2024; 24:foae002. [PMID: 38218591 PMCID: PMC10833146 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foae002] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Among molecular biologists, the group of fungi called Saccharomycotina is famous for its yeasts. These yeasts in turn are famous for what they have in common-genetic, biochemical, and cell-biological characteristics that serve as models for plants and animals. But behind the apparent homogeneity of Saccharomycotina species lie a wealth of differences. In this review, we discuss traits that vary across the Saccharomycotina subphylum. We describe cases of bright pigmentation; a zoo of cell shapes; metabolic specialties; and species with unique rules of gene regulation. We discuss the genetics of this diversity and why it matters, including insights into basic evolutionary principles with relevance across Eukarya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson J -T Wang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jacob L Steenwyk
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rachel B Brem
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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4
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Schwarz LV, Sandri FK, Scariot F, Delamare APL, Valera MJ, Carrau F, Echeverrigaray S. High nitrogen concentration causes G2/M arrest in Hanseniaspora vineae. Yeast 2023; 40:640-650. [PMID: 37997429 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3911] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Yeasts have been widely used as a model to better understand cell cycle mechanisms and how nutritional and genetic factors can impact cell cycle progression. While nitrogen scarcity is well known to modulate cell cycle progression, the relevance of nitrogen excess for microorganisms has been overlooked. In our previous work, we observed an absence of proper entry into the quiescent state in Hanseniaspora vineae and identified a potential link between this behavior and nitrogen availability. Furthermore, the Hanseniaspora genus has gained attention due to a significant loss of genes associated with DNA repair and cell cycle. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen concentrations on H. vineae's cell cycle progression. Our findings demonstrated that nitrogen excess, regardless of the source, disrupts cell cycle progression and induces G2/M arrest in H. vineae after reaching the stationary phase. Additionally, we observed a viability decline in H. vineae cells in an ammonium-dependent manner, accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial hyperpolarization, intracellular acidification, and DNA fragmentation. Overall, our study highlights the events of the cell cycle arrest in H. vineae induced by nitrogen excess and attempts to elucidate the possible mechanism triggering this absence of proper entry into the quiescent state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Vivian Schwarz
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Knaach Sandri
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernando Scariot
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Jose Valera
- Enology and Fermentation Biotechnology Area, Departamento Ciencia y Tecnología Alimentos, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Francisco Carrau
- Enology and Fermentation Biotechnology Area, Departamento Ciencia y Tecnología Alimentos, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sergio Echeverrigaray
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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5
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O’Meara MJ, Rapala JR, Nichols CB, Alexandre C, Billmyre RB, Steenwyk JL, Alspaugh JA, O’Meara TR. CryptoCEN: A Co-Expression Network for Cryptococcus neoformans reveals novel proteins involved in DNA damage repair. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.17.553567. [PMID: 37645941 PMCID: PMC10462067 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.553567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating gene function is a major goal in biology, especially among non-model organisms. However, doing so is complicated by the fact that molecular conservation does not always mirror functional conservation, and that complex relationships among genes are responsible for encoding pathways and higher-order biological processes. Co-expression, a promising approach for predicting gene function, relies on the general principal that genes with similar expression patterns across multiple conditions will likely be involved in the same biological process. For Cryptococcus neoformans, a prevalent human fungal pathogen greatly diverged from model yeasts, approximately 60% of the predicted genes in the genome lack functional annotations. Here, we leveraged a large amount of publicly available transcriptomic data to generate a C. neoformans Co-Expression Network (CryptoCEN), successfully recapitulating known protein networks, predicting gene function, and enabling insights into the principles influencing co-expression. With 100% predictive accuracy, we used CryptoCEN to identify 13 new DNA damage response genes, underscoring the utility of guilt-by-association for determining gene function. Overall, co-expression is a powerful tool for uncovering gene function, and decreases the experimental tests needed to identify functions for currently under-annotated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. O’Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jackson R. Rapala
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Connie B. Nichols
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christina Alexandre
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - R. Blake Billmyre
- Departments of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences/Infectious Disease, College of Pharmacy/College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jacob L Steenwyk
- Howards Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Teresa R. O’Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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6
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Feng Y, Zhang Y, Li J, Omran RP, Whiteway M, Feng J. Transcriptional Profiling of the Candida albicans Response to the DNA Damage Agent Methyl Methanesulfonate. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147555. [PMID: 35886903 PMCID: PMC9317300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The infection of a mammalian host by the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans involves fungal resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS)—induced DNA damage stress generated by the defending macrophages or neutrophils. Thus, the DNA damage response in C. albicans may contribute to its pathogenicity. Uncovering the transcriptional changes triggered by the DNA damage—inducing agent MMS in many model organisms has enhanced the understanding of their DNA damage response processes. However, the transcriptional regulation triggered by MMS remains unclear in C. albicans. Here, we explored the global transcription profile in response to MMS in C. albicans and identified 306 defined genes whose transcription was significantly affected by MMS. Only a few MMS-responsive genes, such as MGT1, DDR48, MAG1, and RAD7, showed potential roles in DNA repair. GO term analysis revealed that a large number of induced genes were involved in antioxidation responses, and some downregulated genes were involved in nucleosome packing and IMP biosynthesis. Nevertheless, phenotypic assays revealed that MMS-induced antioxidation gene CAP1 and glutathione metabolism genes GST2 and GST3 showed no direct roles in MMS resistance. Furthermore, the altered transcription of several MMS—responsive genes exhibited RAD53—related regulation. Intriguingly, the transcription profile in response to MMS in C. albicans shared a limited similarity with the pattern in S. cerevisiae, including COX17, PRI2, and MGT1. Overall, C. albicans cells exhibit global transcriptional changes to the DNA damage agent MMS; these findings improve our understanding of this pathogen’s DNA damage response pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226007, China; (Y.F.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226007, China; (Y.F.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226007, China; (Y.F.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Raha Parvizi Omran
- Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; (R.P.O.); (M.W.)
| | - Malcolm Whiteway
- Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; (R.P.O.); (M.W.)
| | - Jinrong Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226007, China; (Y.F.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-513-85051746
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7
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Schrevens S, Durandau E, Tran VDT, Sanglard D. Using in vivo transcriptomics and RNA enrichment to identify genes involved in virulence of Candida glabrata. Virulence 2022; 13:1285-1303. [PMID: 35795910 PMCID: PMC9348041 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2095716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida species are the most commonly isolated opportunistic fungal pathogens in humans. Candida albicans causes most of the diagnosed infections, closely followed by Candida glabrata. C. albicans is well studied, and many genes have been shown to be important for infection and colonization of the host. It is however less clear how C. glabrata infects the host. With the help of fungal RNA enrichment, we here investigated for the first time the transcriptomic profile of C. glabrata during urinary tract infection (UTI) in mice. In the UTI model, bladders and kidneys are major target organs and therefore fungal transcriptomes were addressed in these organs. Our results showed that, next to adhesins and proteases, nitrogen metabolism and regulation play a vital role during C. glabrata UTI. Genes involved in nitrogen metabolism were upregulated and among them we show that DUR1,2 (urea amidolyase) and GAP1 (amino acid permease) were important for virulence. Furthermore, we confirmed the importance of the glyoxylate cycle in the host and identified MLS1 (malate synthase) as an important gene necessary for C. glabrata virulence. In conclusion, our study shows with the support of in vivo transcriptomics how C. glabrata adapts to host conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Schrevens
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric Durandau
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Van Du T Tran
- Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Sanglard
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Post-Translational Modifications of PCNA: Guiding for the Best DNA Damage Tolerance Choice. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8060621. [PMID: 35736104 PMCID: PMC9225081 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The sliding clamp PCNA is a multifunctional homotrimer mainly linked to DNA replication. During this process, cells must ensure an accurate and complete genome replication when constantly challenged by the presence of DNA lesions. Post-translational modifications of PCNA play a crucial role in channeling DNA damage tolerance (DDT) and repair mechanisms to bypass unrepaired lesions and promote optimal fork replication restart. PCNA ubiquitination processes trigger the following two main DDT sub-pathways: Rad6/Rad18-dependent PCNA monoubiquitination and Ubc13-Mms2/Rad5-mediated PCNA polyubiquitination, promoting error-prone translation synthesis (TLS) or error-free template switch (TS) pathways, respectively. However, the fork protection mechanism leading to TS during fork reversal is still poorly understood. In contrast, PCNA sumoylation impedes the homologous recombination (HR)-mediated salvage recombination (SR) repair pathway. Focusing on Saccharomyces cerevisiae budding yeast, we summarized PCNA related-DDT and repair mechanisms that coordinately sustain genome stability and cell survival. In addition, we compared PCNA sequences from various fungal pathogens, considering recent advances in structural features. Importantly, the identification of PCNA epitopes may lead to potential fungal targets for antifungal drug development.
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9
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Schwarz LV, Valera MJ, Delamare APL, Carrau F, Echeverrigaray S. A peculiar cell cycle arrest at g2/m stage during the stationary phase of growth in the wine yeas Hanseniaspora vineae. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2022; 3:100129. [PMID: 35909624 PMCID: PMC9325883 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2022.100129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle progress variations among Hanseniaspora species. H. vineae shows an unusual cell cycle progress. H. vineae undergoes G2/M arrest in stationary phase.
Yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora gained notoriety in the last years due to their contribution to wine quality, and their loss of several genes, mainly related to DNA repair and cell cycle processes. Based on genomic data from many members of this genus, they have been classified in two well defined clades: the “faster-evolving linage” (FEL) and the “slower-evolving lineage” (SEL). In this context, we had detected that H. vineae exhibited a rapid loss of cell viability in some conditions during the stationary phase compared to H. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. The present work aimed to evaluate the viability and cell cycle progression of representatives of Hanseniaspora species along their growth in an aerobic and discontinuous system. Cell growth, viability and DNA content were determined by turbidity, Trypan Blue staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results showed that H. uvarum and H. opuntiae (representing FEL group), and H. osmophila (SEL group) exhibited a typical G1/G0 (1C DNA) arrest during the stationary phase, as S. cerevisiae. Conversely, the three strains studied here of H. vineae (SEL group) arrested at G2/M stages of cell cycle (2C DNA), and lost viability rapidly when enter the stationary phase. These results showed that H. vineae have a unique cell cycle behavior that will contribute as a new eukaryotic model for future studies of genetic determinants of yeast cell cycle control and progression.
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10
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Abstract
DNA repair is an important component of genome integrity and organisms with reduced repair capabilities tend to accumulate mutations at elevated rates. Microsporidia are intracellular parasites exhibiting high levels of genetic divergence postulated to originate from the lack of several proteins, including the heterotrimeric Rad9–Rad1–Hus1 DNA repair clamp. Microsporidian species from the Encephalitozoonidae have undergone severe streamlining with small genomes coding for about 2,000 proteins. The highly divergent sequences found in Microsporidia render functional inferences difficult such that roughly half of these 2,000 proteins have no known function. Using a structural homology-based annotation approach combining protein structure prediction and tridimensional similarity searches, we found that the Rad9–Rad1–Hus1 DNA clamp is present in Microsporidia, together with many other components of the DNA repair machinery previously thought to be missing from these organisms. Altogether, our results indicate that the DNA repair machinery is present and likely functional in Microsporidia.
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11
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Hernández-Hernández G, Vera-Salazar LA, Castanedo L, López-Fuentes E, Gutiérrez-Escobedo G, De Las Peñas A, Castaño I. Abf1 Is an Essential Protein That Participates in Cell Cycle Progression and Subtelomeric Silencing in Candida glabrata. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7121005. [PMID: 34946988 PMCID: PMC8708972 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121005] [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] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate DNA replication and segregation is key to reproduction and cell viability in all organisms. Autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor 1 (Abf1) is a multifunctional protein that has essential roles in replication, transcription, and regional silencing in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Candida glabrata, which is closely related to S. cerevisiae, these processes are important for survival within the host, for example, the regulation of transcription of virulence-related genes like those involved in adherence. Here, we describe that CgABF1 is an essential gene required for cell viability and silencing near the telomeres, where many adhesin-encoding genes reside. CgAbf1 mediated subtelomeric silencing depends on the 43 C-terminal amino acids. We also found that abnormal expression, depletion, or overexpression of Abf1, results in defects in nuclear morphology, nuclear segregation, and transit through the cell cycle. In the absence of ABF1, cells are arrested in G2 but start cycling again after 9 h, coinciding with the loss of cell viability and the appearance of cells with higher DNA content. Overexpression of CgABF1 causes defects in nuclear segregation and cell cycle progression. We suggest that these effects could be due to the deregulation of DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grecia Hernández-Hernández
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT), Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055 Col. Lomas 4 Sección, San Luis Potosí CP 78233, Mexico; (G.H.-H.); (L.A.V.-S.); (G.G.-E.); (A.D.L.P.)
| | - Laura A. Vera-Salazar
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT), Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055 Col. Lomas 4 Sección, San Luis Potosí CP 78233, Mexico; (G.H.-H.); (L.A.V.-S.); (G.G.-E.); (A.D.L.P.)
| | - Leonardo Castanedo
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse, 150 ND3/30, D-44801 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Eunice López-Fuentes
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Escobedo
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT), Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055 Col. Lomas 4 Sección, San Luis Potosí CP 78233, Mexico; (G.H.-H.); (L.A.V.-S.); (G.G.-E.); (A.D.L.P.)
| | - Alejandro De Las Peñas
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT), Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055 Col. Lomas 4 Sección, San Luis Potosí CP 78233, Mexico; (G.H.-H.); (L.A.V.-S.); (G.G.-E.); (A.D.L.P.)
| | - Irene Castaño
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT), Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055 Col. Lomas 4 Sección, San Luis Potosí CP 78233, Mexico; (G.H.-H.); (L.A.V.-S.); (G.G.-E.); (A.D.L.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-444-834-2038
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12
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Yao S, Feng Y, Zhang Y, Feng J. DNA damage checkpoint and repair: From the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:6343-6354. [PMID: 34938410 PMCID: PMC8645783 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are constantly challenged by internal or external genotoxic assaults, which may induce a high frequency of DNA lesions, leading to genome instability. Accumulation of damaged DNA is severe or even lethal to cells and can result in abnormal proliferation that can cause cancer in multicellular organisms, aging or cell death. Eukaryotic cells have evolved a comprehensive defence system termed the DNA damage response (DDR) to monitor and remove lesions in their DNA. The DDR has been extensively studied in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Emerging evidence indicates that DDR genes in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans show functional consistency with their orthologs in S. cerevisiae, but may act through distinct mechanisms. In particular, the DDR in C. albicans appears critical for resisting DNA damage stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced from immune cells, and this plays a vital role in pathogenicity. Therefore, DDR genes could be considered as potential targets for clinical therapies. This review summarizes the identified DNA damage checkpoint and repair genes in C. albicans based on their orthologs in S. cerevisiae, and discusses their contribution to pathogenicity in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyan Yao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
- Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226016, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuting Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinrong Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
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13
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Abstract
Cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair pathways contribute to maintaining genome integrity and are thought to be evolutionarily ancient and broadly conserved. For example, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans, DNA damage induces activation of a checkpoint effector kinase, Rad53p (human homolog Chk2), to promote cell cycle arrest and transcription of DNA repair genes. Cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair pathways contribute to maintaining genome integrity and are thought to be evolutionarily ancient and broadly conserved. For example, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and humans, DNA damage induces activation of a checkpoint effector kinase, Rad53p (human homolog Chk2), to promote cell cycle arrest and transcription of DNA repair genes. However, recent studies have revealed variation in the DNA damage response networks of some fungi. For example, Shor et al. (mBio 11:e03044-20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.03044-20) demonstrate that in comparison to S. cerevisiae, the fungal pathogen Candida glabrata has reduced activation of Rad53p in response to DNA damage. Consequently, some downstream targets that contribute to S. cerevisiae genome maintenance, such as DNA polymerases, are transcriptionally downregulated in C. glabrata. Downregulation of genome maintenance genes likely contributes to higher rates of mitotic failure and cell death in C. glabrata. This and other recent findings highlight evolutionary diversity in eukaryotic DNA damage responses.
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Shor E, Perlin DS. DNA damage response of major fungal pathogen Candida glabrata offers clues to explain its genetic diversity. Curr Genet 2021; 67:439-445. [PMID: 33620543 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01162-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
How cells respond to DNA damage is key to maintaining genome integrity or facilitating genetic change. In fungi, DNA damage responses have been extensively characterized in the model budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is generally not pathogenic. However, it is not clear how closely these responses resemble those in fungal pathogens, in which genetic change plays an important role in the evolutionary arms race between pathogen and host and the evolution of antifungal drug resistance. A close relative of S. cerevisiae, Candida glabrata, is an opportunistic pathogen that displays high variability in chromosome structure among clinical isolates and rapidly evolves antifungal drug resistance. The mechanisms facilitating such genomic flexibility and evolvability in this organism are unknown. Recently we characterized the DNA damage response of C. glabrata and identified several features that distinguish it from the well characterized DNA damage response of S. cerevisiae. First, we discovered that, in contrast to the established paradigm, C. glabrata effector kinase Rad53 is not hyperphosphorylated upon DNA damage. We also uncovered evidence of an attenuated DNA damage checkpoint response, wherein in the presence of DNA damage C. glabrata cells did not accumulate in S-phase and proceeded with cell division, leading to aberrant mitoses and cell death. Finally, we identified evidence of transcriptional rewiring of the DNA damage response of C. glabrata relative to S. cerevisiae, including an upregulation of genes involved in mating and meiosis-processes that have not been reported in C. glabrata. Together, these results open new possibilities and raise tantalizing questions of how this major fungal pathogen facilitates genetic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Shor
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA. .,Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA.
| | - David S Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA.,Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA.,Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
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