RRC ID 46859
Author Moranova Z, Virtudazo E, Hricova K, Ohkusu M, Kawamoto S, Husickova V, Raclavsky V.
Title The CRZ1/SP1-like gene links survival under limited aeration, cell integrity and biofilm formation in the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans.
Journal Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub
Abstract AIMS:Limited aeration has been demonstrated to cause slowdown in proliferation and delayed budding, resulting eventually in a unique unbudded G2-arrest in the obligate aerobic pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Also, the ability to adapt to decreased oxygen levels during pathogenesis has been identified as a virulence factor in C. neoformans. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize genes that are necessary for the proliferation slowdown and G2-arrest caused by limited aeration.
METHODS:Random mutants were prepared and screened for lack of typical slowdown of proliferation under limited aeration. The CNAG_00156.2 gene coding for a zinc-finger transcription factor was identified in mutants showing most distinctive phenotype. Targeted deletion strain and reconstituted strain were prepared to characterize and confirm the gene functions. This gene was also identified in a parallel studies as homologous both to calcineurin responsive (Crz1) and PKC1-dependent (SP1-like) transcription factors.
RESULTS:We have confirmed the role of the cryptococcal homologue of CRZ1/SP1-like transcription factor in cell integrity, and newly demonstrated its role in slowdown of proliferation and survival under reduced aeration, in biofilm formation and in susceptibility to fluconazole.
CONCLUSIONS:Our data demonstrate a tight molecular link between slowdown of proliferation during hypoxic adaptation and maintenance of cell integrity in C. neoformans and present a new role for the CRZ1 family of transcription factors in fungi. The exact positioning of this protein in cryptococcal signalling cascades remains to be clarified.
Volume 158(2)
Pages 212-20
Published 2014-6-1
DOI 10.5507/bp.2013.024
PMID 23640031
MeSH Anaerobiosis Antifungal Agents / pharmacology Biofilms / growth & development Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics* Cell Cycle Checkpoints / genetics Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics* Cryptococcus neoformans / growth & development* Fluconazole / pharmacology Gene Deletion Microbial Viability Transcription Factors / genetics*
IF 1.0
Times Cited 14
WOS Category MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL
Resource
Pathogenic microorganisms IFM 49144