scholarly journals Overlapping and Distinct Roles of Aspergillus fumigatus UDP-glucose 4-Epimerases in Galactose Metabolism and the Synthesis of Galactose-containing Cell Wall Polysaccharides

2013 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. 1243-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Lee ◽  
Fabrice N. Gravelat ◽  
Robert P. Cerone ◽  
Stefanie D. Baptista ◽  
Paolo V. Campoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathways ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Galactose Metabolism ◽  
Double Deletion ◽  
Genes Encoding

The cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus contains two galactose-containing polysaccharides, galactomannan and galactosaminogalactan, whose biosynthetic pathways are not well understood. The A. fumigatus genome contains three genes encoding putative UDP-glucose 4-epimerases, uge3, uge4, and uge5. We undertook this study to elucidate the function of these epimerases. We found that uge4 is minimally expressed and is not required for the synthesis of galactose-containing exopolysaccharides or galactose metabolism. Uge5 is the dominant UDP-glucose 4-epimerase in A. fumigatus and is essential for normal growth in galactose-based medium. Uge5 is required for synthesis of the galactofuranose (Galf) component of galactomannan and contributes galactose to the synthesis of galactosaminogalactan. Uge3 can mediate production of both UDP-galactose and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and is required for the production of galactosaminogalactan but not galactomannan. In the absence of Uge5, Uge3 activity is sufficient for growth on galactose and the synthesis of galactosaminogalactan containing lower levels of galactose but not the synthesis of Galf. A double deletion of uge5 and uge3 blocked growth on galactose and synthesis of both Galf and galactosaminogalactan. This study is the first survey of glucose epimerases in A. fumigatus and contributes to our understanding of the role of these enzymes in metabolism and cell wall synthesis.

scholarly journals Putative PmrA and PmcA are important for normal growth, morphogenesis and cell wall integrity, but not for viability in Aspergillus nidulans

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (11) ◽  
pp. 2387-2395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hechun Jiang ◽  
Feifei Liu ◽  
Shizhu Zhang ◽  
Ling Lu
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Plasma Membrane Atpase ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Double Deletion ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
P Type

P-type Ca2+-transporting ATPases are Ca2+ pumps, extruding cytosolic Ca2+ to the extracellular environment or the intracellular Ca2+ store lumens. In budding yeast, Pmr1 (plasma membrane ATPase related), and Pmc1 (plasma membrane calcium-ATPase) cannot be deleted simultaneously for it to survive in standard medium. Here, we deleted two putative Ca2+ pumps, designated AnPmrA and AnPmcA, from Aspergillus nidulans, and obtained the mutants ΔanpmrA and ΔanpmcA, respectively. Then, using ΔanpmrA as the starting strain, the promoter of its anpmcA was replaced with the alcA promoter to secure the mutant ΔanpmrAalcApmcA or its anpmcA was deleted completely to produce the mutant ΔanpmrAΔpmcA. Different from the case in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, double deletion of anpmrA and anpmcA was not lethal in A. nidulans. In addition, deletion of anpmrA and/or anpmcA had produced growth defects, although overexpression of AnPmc1 in ΔanpmrAalcApmcA could not restore the growth defects that resulted from the loss of AnPmrA. Moreover, we found AnPmrA was indispensable for maintenance of normal morphogenesis, especially in low-Ca2+/Mn2+ environments. Thus, our findings suggest AnPmrA and AnPmcA might play important roles in growth, morphogenesis and cell wall integrity in A. nidulans in a different way from that in yeasts.

scholarly journals The Transcription Factor Con7-1 Is a Master Regulator of Morphogenesis and Virulence in Fusarium oxysporum

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Ruiz-Roldán ◽  
Yolanda Pareja-Jaime ◽  
José Antonio González-Reyes ◽  
M. Isabel G. Roncero
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fusarium Oxysporum ◽  
Gene Expression Analysis ◽  
Wall Structure ◽  
Targeted Deletion ◽  
Signal Perception ◽  
Cell Wall Biogenesis ◽  
Primary And Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Genes Encoding

Previous studies have demonstrated the essential role of morphogenetic regulation in Fusarium oxysporum pathogenesis, including processes such as cell-wall biogenesis, cell division, and differentiation of infection-like structures. We identified three F. oxysporum genes encoding predicted transcription factors showing significant identities to Magnaporthe oryzae Con7p, Con7-1, plus two identical copies of Con7-2. Targeted deletion of con7-1 produced nonpathogenic mutants with altered morphogenesis, including defects in cell wall structure, polar growth, hyphal branching, and conidiation. By contrast, simultaneous inactivation of both con7-2 copies caused no detectable defects in the resulting mutants. Comparative microarray-based gene expression analysis indicated that Con7-1 modulates the expression of a large number of genes involved in different biological functions, including host–pathogen interactions, morphogenesis and development, signal perception and transduction, transcriptional regulation, and primary and secondary metabolism. Taken together, our results point to Con7-1 as general regulator of morphogenesis and virulence in F. oxysporum.

Fine Structure of Swarmers of Cladophora and Chaetomorpha

1971 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-601
Author(s):  
D. G. ROBINSON ◽  
R. D. PRESTON
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Fibrous Layer ◽  
Etching Technique ◽  
Freeze Etching

Naked swarmers of both Cladophora rupestris and Chaetomorpha melagonium have been examined by the freeze-etching technique. The swarmers of Cladophora, collected just after settling, reveal several layers of granules external to the plasmalemma and internal to the so-called ‘fibrous-layer’. Chaetomorpha swarmers collected just before settling show extrusion of vesicles through the plasmalemma. The structures associated with the membranes are discussed in relation to known features of these swarmers already observed by sectioning. The role of granules in the synthesis of cell wall microfibrils is strengthened though the spatial arrangement of the granules seen in this investigation does not completely fulfil the ‘ordered granule’ hypothesis. Description of, and comments on, features related to cell wall synthesis, particularly the Golgi and vacuolar systems, are given.

scholarly journals Protein Glycosylation inAspergillus fumigatusIs Essential for Cell Wall Synthesis and Serves as a Promising Model of Multicellular Eukaryotic Development

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Jin
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Posttranslational Modification ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Protein Glycosylation ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Significant Attention

Glycosylation is a conserved posttranslational modification that is found in all eukaryotes, which helps generate proteins with multiple functions. Our knowledge of glycosylation mainly comes from the investigation of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand mammalian cells. However, during the last decade, glycosylation in the human pathogenic moldAspergillus fumigatushas drawn significant attention. It has been revealed that glycosylation inA. fumigatusis crucial for its growth, cell wall synthesis, and development and that the process is more complicated than that found in the budding yeastS. cerevisiae. The present paper implies that the investigation of glycosylation inA. fumigatusis not only vital for elucidating the mechanism of fungal cell wall synthesis, which will benefit the design of new antifungal therapies, but also helps to understand the role of protein glycosylation in the development of multicellular eukaryotes. This paper describes the advances in functional analysis of protein glycosylation inA. fumigatus.

scholarly journals The regulatory and transcriptional landscape associated with carbon utilization in a filamentous fungus

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (11) ◽  
pp. 6003-6013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent W. Wu ◽  
Nils Thieme ◽  
Lori B. Huberman ◽  
Axel Dietschmann ◽  
David J. Kowbel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Plant Cell ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes ◽  
Degrading Enzymes ◽  
Genes Encoding

Filamentous fungi, such asNeurospora crassa, are very efficient in deconstructing plant biomass by the secretion of an arsenal of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, by remodeling metabolism to accommodate production of secreted enzymes, and by enabling transport and intracellular utilization of plant biomass components. Although a number of enzymes and transcriptional regulators involved in plant biomass utilization have been identified, how filamentous fungi sense and integrate nutritional information encoded in the plant cell wall into a regulatory hierarchy for optimal utilization of complex carbon sources is not understood. Here, we performed transcriptional profiling ofN. crassaon 40 different carbon sources, including plant biomass, to provide data on how fungi sense simple to complex carbohydrates. From these data, we identified regulatory factors inN. crassaand characterized one (PDR-2) associated with pectin utilization and one with pectin/hemicellulose utilization (ARA-1). Using in vitro DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq), we identified direct targets of transcription factors involved in regulating genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. In particular, our data clarified the role of the transcription factor VIB-1 in the regulation of genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and nutrient scavenging and revealed a major role of the carbon catabolite repressor CRE-1 in regulating the expression of major facilitator transporter genes. These data contribute to a more complete understanding of cross talk between transcription factors and their target genes, which are involved in regulating nutrient sensing and plant biomass utilization on a global level.

scholarly journals Contribution of cell wall modifying enzymes on the texture of fleshy fruits: The example of apple

2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle Bonnin ◽  
Marc Lahaye
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Structural Reorganization ◽  
Fleshy Fruits ◽  
Textural Changes ◽  
Transformation Processes

Cell walls consist of polysaccharide assemblies (pectin, hemicelluloses and cellulose), whose structure and interactions vary depending on fruit genetic, and its stage and conditions of development. The establishment and the structural reorganization of the assemblies result from enzyme/protein consortia acting in muro. The texture of fleshy fruits is one of the major criteria for consumer choice. It impacts also post-harvest routes and transformation processes. Disassembly of fruit cell wall polysaccharides largely induces textural changes during ripening but the precise role of each polysaccharide and each enzyme remains unclear. The changes of cell wall polysaccharides during fruit ripening have mainly emphasized a modulation of the fine chemical structure of pectins by hydrolases, lyases, and esterases. This restructuring also involves a reorganization of hemicelluloses by hydrolases/transglycosydases and a modulation of their interactions with the cellulose by non-catalytic proteins such as expansin. Apple is the third fruit production in the world and is the subject of studies about fruit quality. This paper presents some of the results to date about the enzymes/proteins involved in this fruit ripening with a particular emphasis on apple.

scholarly journals Five Genes Encoding Surface-Exposed LPXTG Proteins Are Enriched in Hospital-Adapted Enterococcus faecium Clonal Complex 17 Isolates

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (22) ◽  
pp. 8321-8332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni P. A. Hendrickx ◽  
Willem J. B. van Wamel ◽  
George Posthuma ◽  
Marc J. M. Bonten ◽  
Rob J. L. Willems
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Clonal Complex ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Dot Blot ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Invasive Infections

ABSTRACT Most Enterococcus faecium isolates associated with hospital outbreaks and invasive infections belong to a distinct genetic subpopulation called clonal complex 17 (CC17). It has been postulated that the genetic evolution of CC17 involves the acquisition of various genes involved in antibiotic resistance, metabolic pathways, and virulence. To gain insight into additional genes that may have favored the rapid emergence of this nosocomial pathogen, we aimed to identify surface-exposed LPXTG cell wall-anchored proteins (CWAPs) specifically enriched in CC17 E. faecium. Using PCR and Southern and dot blot hybridizations, 131 E. faecium isolates (40 CC17 and 91 non-CC17) were screened for the presence of 22 putative CWAP genes identified from the E. faecium TX0016 genome. Five genes encoding LPXTG surface proteins were specifically enriched in E. faecium CC17 isolates. These five LPXTG surface protein genes were found in 28 to 40 (70 to 100%) of CC17 and in only 7 to 24 (8 to 26%) of non-CC17 isolates (P < 0.05). Three of these CWAP genes clustered together on the E. faecium TX0016 genome, which may comprise a novel enterococcal pathogenicity island covering E. faecium contig 609. Expression at the mRNA level was demonstrated, and immunotransmission electron microscopy revealed an association of the five LPXTG surface proteins with the cell wall. Minimal spanning tree analysis based on the presence and absence of 22 CWAP genes revealed grouping of all 40 CC17 strains together with 18 hospital-derived but evolutionary unrelated non-CC17 isolates in a distinct CWAP-enriched cluster, suggesting horizontal transfer of CWAP genes and a role of these CWAPs in hospital adaptation.

Corrigendum - The role of wheat non-starch polysaccharides in broiler nutrition

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Annison
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Gut Microflora ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Growth Depression ◽  
Cell Wall Components ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Wall Components

It has been well established over a number of years that the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) value of wheat is highly variable. In 1983 and 1987 in Australia two surveys indicated that approximately 25% of wheats have AME values lower than 13 MJ/kg.DM (range 10.4-15.9 MJ/kg.DM). Following recent studies it has been proposed that the soluble non-starch polysaccharide cell-wall components of wheat (mainly arabinoxylan with some G-glucan) have an anti-nitritive activity when wheats are present at high levels in broiler diets and are responsible for the low-AME wheat phenomenon. The main findings supporting this hypothesis are (1) wheat AME values are negatively correlated with soluble non-starch polysaccharide levels, (2) low level addition (30g/kg) of commercially available pur non-starch polysaccharides to broiler diets depresses the AME,of the diets, (3) degradation of the cell wall polysaccharides in situ by addition of glycanases to broiler diets raises AME values, and (4) addition of purified wheat arabinoxylan to broiler diets depresses the AME in a dose-dependant manner. The AME depression is a result of the inhibition of starch, lipid and proteindigestion in the fore-gut. This paper reviews the experiments and the data from the studies and discusses further aspects of the anti-nutritive activity of cereal polysaccharides in broiler diets. The possible role of the gut microflora in the growth depression observed when diets containing high levels of rye, barley and wheat are fed to broiler chickens is also examined.

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