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Folorunso OS, Sebolai OM. A Limited Number of Amino Acid Permeases Are Crucial for Cryptococcus neoformans Survival and Virulence. Int J Microbiol 2024; 2024:5566438. [PMID: 39148675 PMCID: PMC11326883 DOI: 10.1155/2024/5566438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
One unique attribute of Cryptococcus neoformans is its ability to procure essential monomers from its surroundings to survive in diverse environments. Preferentially, sugars are the energy sources for this opportunistic pathogenic fungus under the carbon catabolite repression (CCR); however, sugar restriction induces alternative use of low molecular weight alcohol, organic acids, and amino acids. The expression of transmembrane amino acid permeases (Aaps) allows C. neoformans to utilize different amino acids and their conjugates, notwithstanding under the nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). Being referred to as global permeases, there is a notion that all cryptococcal Aaps are important to survival and virulence. This functional divergence makes alternative drug targeting against Cryptococcus a challenge. We examine the functions and regulations of C. neoformans Aap variants with the aim of rationalizing their relevance to cryptococcal cell survival and virulence. Based on nutrient bioavailability, we linked the Cac1 pathway to Ras1 activation for thermotolerance that provides a temperature cushion for Aap activity under physiological conditions. Lastly, mutants of Aaps are examined for significant phenotypic deficiencies/advantages, which buttress the specific importance of limited numbers of Aaps involved in cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olufemi S Folorunso
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
| | - Olihile M Sebolai
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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Santos RS, Martins-Silva G, Padilla AAÁ, Possari M, Degello SD, Bernardes Brustolini OJ, Vasconcelos ATR, Vallim MA, Pascon RC. Transcriptional and Post-Translational Roles of Calcineurin in Cationic Stress and Glycerol Biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:531. [PMID: 39194857 DOI: 10.3390/jof10080531] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress management is an adaptive advantage for survival in adverse environments. Pathogens face this challenge during host colonization, requiring an appropriate stress response to establish infection. The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes thermal, oxidative, and osmotic stresses in the environment and animal host. Signaling systems controlled by Ras1, Hog1, and calcineurin respond to high temperatures and osmotic stress. Cationic stress caused by Na+, K+, and Li+ can be overcome with glycerol, the preferred osmolyte. Deleting the glycerol phosphate phosphatase gene (GPP2) prevents cells from accumulating glycerol due to a block in the last step of its biosynthetic pathway. Gpp2 accumulates in a phosphorylated form in a cna1Δ strain, and a physical interaction between Gpp2 and Cna1 was found; moreover, the gpp2Δ strain undergoes slow growth and has attenuated virulence in animal models of infection. We provide biochemical evidence that growth in 1 M NaCl increases glycerol content in the wild type, whereas gpp2Δ, cna1Δ, and cnb1Δ mutants fail to accumulate it. The deletion of cnb1Δ or cna1Δ renders yeast cells sensitive to cationic stress, and the Gfp-Gpp2 protein assumes an abnormal localization. We suggest a mechanism in which calcineurin controls Gpp2 at the post-translational level, affecting its localization and activity, leading to glycerol biosynthesis. Also, we showed the transcriptional profile of glycerol-deficient mutants and established the cationic stress response mediated by calcineurin; among the biological processes differentially expressed are carbon utilization, translation, transmembrane transport, glutathione metabolism, oxidative stress response, and transcription regulation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this transcriptional profile has been described. These results have implications for pathogen stress adaptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Silva Santos
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Martins-Silva
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Mateus Possari
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Otávio J Bernardes Brustolini
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica-LNCC, Labinfo-Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis 25651-075, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza Ribeiro Vasconcelos
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica-LNCC, Labinfo-Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis 25651-075, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Afonso Vallim
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata C Pascon
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
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Tao Y, Zheng D, Zou W, Guo T, Liao G, Zhou W. Targeting the cysteine biosynthesis pathway in microorganisms: Mechanism, structure, and drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116461. [PMID: 38691891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Owing to the global health crisis of resistant pathogenic infections, researchers are emphasizing the importance of novel prevention and control strategies. Existing antimicrobial drugs predominantly target a few pathways, and their widespread use has pervasively increased drug resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new antimicrobial drugs with novel targets and chemical structures. The de novo cysteine biosynthesis pathway, one of the microbial metabolic pathways, plays a crucial role in pathogenicity and drug resistance. This pathway notably differs from that in humans, thereby representing an unexplored target for developing antimicrobial drugs. Herein, we have presented an overview of cysteine biosynthesis pathways and their roles in the pathogenicity of various microorganisms. Additionally, we have investigated the structure and function of enzymes involved in these pathways as well as have discussed drug design strategies and structure-activity relationships of the enzyme inhibitors. This review provides valuable insights for developing novel antimicrobials and offers new avenues to combat drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wei Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guojian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Hoang CQ, Duong GHT, Tran MH, Vu TX, Tran TB, Pham HTN. Molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic degeneration in Cordyceps militaris: insights from transcriptome reanalysis and osmotic stress studies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2231. [PMID: 38278834 PMCID: PMC10817986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51946-3] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic degeneration in Cordyceps militaris poses a significant concern for producers, yet the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. To address this concern, we isolated two strains that differ in their abilities to form fruiting bodies. Our observations revealed that the degenerated strain lost the capacity to develop fruiting bodies, exhibited limited radial expansion, increased spore density, and elevated intracellular glycerol levels. Transcriptome reanalysis uncovered dysregulation of genes involved in the MAPK signaling pathway in the degenerate strain. Our RT-qPCR results demonstrated reduced expression of sexual development genes, along with upregulation of genes involved in asexual sporulation, glycerol synthesis, and MAPK regulation, when compared to the wild-type strain. Additionally, we discovered that osmotic stress reduced radial growth but increased conidia sporulation and glycerol accumulation in all strains. Furthermore, hyperosmotic stress inhibited fruiting body formation in all neutralized strains. These findings indicate dysregulation of the MAPK signaling pathway, the possibility of the activation of the high-osmolarity glycerol and spore formation modules, as well as the downregulation of the pheromone response and filamentous growth cascades in the degenerate strain. Overall, our study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying Cordyceps militaris degeneration and identifies potential targets for improving cultivation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinh Q Hoang
- Center of Experimental Biology, National Center for Technical Progress, C6 Thanh Xuan Bac, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Giang H T Duong
- Center of Experimental Biology, National Center for Technical Progress, C6 Thanh Xuan Bac, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of New Technology, Academy of Military Science and Technology, 17 Hoang Sam, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mai H Tran
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Vingroup Big Data Institute, and GeneStory JSC, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam
- GeneStory JSC, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Tao X Vu
- Center of Experimental Biology, National Center for Technical Progress, C6 Thanh Xuan Bac, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Tram B Tran
- Center of Experimental Biology, National Center for Technical Progress, C6 Thanh Xuan Bac, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hang T N Pham
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, 3B Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
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da Silva JP, Meneghini MR, Santos RS, Alves VL, da Cruz Martho KF, Vallim MA, Pascon RC. ATP sulfurylase atypical leucine zipper interacts with Cys3 and calcineurin A in the regulation of sulfur amino acid biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11694. [PMID: 37474559 PMCID: PMC10359356 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37556-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a major cause of death, especially among immunocompromised patients. Therapies against invasive fungal infections are restricted to a few antifungals; therefore, novel therapies are necessary. Nutritional signaling and regulation are important for pathogen establishment in the host. In Cryptococcus neoformans, the causal agent of fungal meningitis, amino acid uptake and biosynthesis are major aspects of nutritional adaptation. Disruptions in these pathways lead to virulence attenuation in an animal model of infection, especially for sulfur uptake and sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. Deletion of Cys3, the main transcription factor that controls these pathways, is the most deleterious gene knockout in vitro and in vivo, making it an important target for further application. Previously, we demonstrated that Cys3 is part of a protein complex, including calcineurin, which is necessary to maintain high Cys3 protein levels during sulfur uptake and sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. In the current study, other aspects of Cys3 regulation are explored. Two lines of evidence suggest that C. neoformans Cys3 does not interact with the F-box WD40 protein annotated as Met30, indicating another protein mediates Cys3 ubiquitin degradation. However, we found another level of Cys3 regulation, which involves protein interactions between Cys3 and ATP sulfurylase (MET3 gene). We show that an atypical leucine zipper at the N-terminus of ATP sulfurylase is essential for physical interaction with Cys3 and calcineurin. Our data suggests that Cys3 and ATP sulfurylase interact to regulate Cys3 transcriptional activity. This work evidences the complexity involved in the regulation of a transcription factor essential for the sulfur metabolism, which is a biological process important to nutritional adaptation, oxidative stress response, nucleic acid stability, and methylation. This information may be useful in designing novel therapies against fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyson Pereira da Silva
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Mariana Reis Meneghini
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Silva Santos
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Verônica Lira Alves
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Afonso Vallim
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Renata Castiglioni Pascon
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil.
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Oliveira L, Ferrarini M, dos Santos AP, Varela MT, Corrêa ITS, Tempone AG, Melhem MS, Vallim MA, Fernandes JPS, Pascon RC. Coumaric acid analogues inhibit growth and melanin biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans and potentialize amphotericin B antifungal activity. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 153:105473. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Alder-Rangel A, Idnurm A, Brand AC, Brown AJP, Gorbushina A, Kelliher CM, Campos CB, Levin DE, Bell-Pedersen D, Dadachova E, Bauer FF, Gadd GM, Braus GH, Braga GUL, Brancini GTP, Walker GM, Druzhinina I, Pócsi I, Dijksterhuis J, Aguirre J, Hallsworth JE, Schumacher J, Wong KH, Selbmann L, Corrochano LM, Kupiec M, Momany M, Molin M, Requena N, Yarden O, Cordero RJB, Fischer R, Pascon RC, Mancinelli RL, Emri T, Basso TO, Rangel DEN. The Third International Symposium on Fungal Stress - ISFUS. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:235-252. [PMID: 32389286 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Stress is a normal part of life for fungi, which can survive in environments considered inhospitable or hostile for other organisms. Due to the ability of fungi to respond to, survive in, and transform the environment, even under severe stresses, many researchers are exploring the mechanisms that enable fungi to adapt to stress. The International Symposium on Fungal Stress (ISFUS) brings together leading scientists from around the world who research fungal stress. This article discusses presentations given at the third ISFUS, held in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil in 2019, thereby summarizing the state-of-the-art knowledge on fungal stress, a field that includes microbiology, agriculture, ecology, biotechnology, medicine, and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Idnurm
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexandra C Brand
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, England, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, England, UK
| | - Anna Gorbushina
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Materials and the Environment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina M Kelliher
- Department of Molecular & Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Claudia B Campos
- Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - David E Levin
- Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah Bell-Pedersen
- Center for Biological Clocks Research, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ekaterina Dadachova
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Florian F Bauer
- Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Geoffrey M Gadd
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gilberto U L Braga
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme T P Brancini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Graeme M Walker
- School of Applied Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | | | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Jan Dijksterhuis
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jesús Aguirre
- Departamento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Materials and the Environment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Koon Ho Wong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy; Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Martin Kupiec
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michelle Momany
- Fungal Biology Group & Plant Biology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mikael Molin
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Natalia Requena
- Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Oded Yarden
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jeruslaem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Radamés J B Cordero
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Renata C Pascon
- Biological Sciences Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Tamas Emri
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Thiago O Basso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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