scholarly journals Candida albicans Vrp1 is required for polarized morphogenesis and interacts with Wal1 and Myo5

Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (10) ◽  
pp. 2962-2969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Borth ◽  
Andrea Walther ◽  
Patrick Reijnst ◽  
Sigyn Jorde ◽  
Yvonne Schaub ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Terminal Part ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Interaction Sites

Recently, a link between endocytosis and hyphal morphogenesis has been identified in Candida albicans via the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome gene homologue WAL1. To get a more detailed mechanistic understanding of this link we have investigated a potentially conserved interaction between Wal1 and the C. albicans WASP-interacting protein (WIP) homologue encoded by VRP1. Deletion of both alleles of VRP1 results in strong hyphal growth defects under serum inducing conditions but filamentation can be observed on Spider medium. Mutant vrp1 cells show a delay in endocytosis – measured as the uptake and delivery of the lipophilic dye FM4-64 into small endocytic vesicles – compared to the wild-type. Vacuolar morphology was found to be fragmented in a subset of cells and the cortical actin cytoskeleton was depolarized in vrp1 daughter cells. The morphology of the vrp1 null mutant could be complemented by reintegration of the wild-type VRP1 gene at the BUD3 locus. Using the yeast two-hybrid system we could demonstrate an interaction between the C-terminal part of Vrp1 and the N-terminal part of Wal1, which contains the WH1 domain. Furthermore, we found that Myo5 has several potential interaction sites on Vrp1. This suggests that a Wal1–Vrp1–Myo5 complex plays an important role in endocytosis and the polarized localization of the cortical actin cytoskeleton to promote polarized hyphal growth in C. albicans.

scholarly journals Polarized Hyphal Growth in Candida albicans Requires the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Homolog Wal1p

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Walther ◽  
J. Wendland
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome ◽  
Syndrome Protein

ABSTRACT The yeast-to-hypha transition is a key feature in the cell biology of the dimorphic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is required for this dimorphic switch in Candida. We show that C. albicans WAL1 mutants with both copies of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) homolog deleted do not form hyphae under all inducing conditions tested. Growth of the wild-type and wal1 mutant strains was monitored by in vivo time-lapse microscopy both during yeast-like growth and under hypha-inducing conditions. Isotropic bud growth produced round wal1 cells and unusual mother cell growth. Defects in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton resulted in the random localization of actin patches. Furthermore, wal1 cells exhibited defects in the endocytosis of the lipophilic dye FM4-64, contained increased numbers of vacuoles compared to the wild type, and showed defects in bud site selection. Under hypha-inducing conditions wal1 cells were able to initiate polarized morphogenesis, which, however, resulted in the formation of pseudohyphal cells. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Wal1p showed patch-like localization in emerging daughter cells during the yeast growth phase and at the hyphal tips under hypha-inducing conditions. Wal1p-GFP localization largely overlapped with that of actin. Our results demonstrate that Wal1p is required for the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and hyphal morphogenesis in C. albicans as well as for endocytosis and vacuole morphology.

scholarly journals Rsp5p, a New Link between the Actin Cytoskeleton and Endocytosis in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 6946-6948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kamińska ◽  
Beata Gajewska ◽  
Anita K. Hopper ◽  
Teresa ˙Zołądek
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Ww Domains ◽  
Ubiquitin Protein Ligase ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Cytoskeleton Dynamics

ABSTRACT Rsp5p is an ubiquitin-protein ligase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has been implicated in numerous processes including transcription, mitochondrial inheritance, and endocytosis. Rsp5p functions at multiple steps of endocytosis, including ubiquitination of substrates and other undefined steps. We propose that one of the roles of Rsp5p in endocytosis involves maintenance and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. We report the following. (i) There are genetic interactions between rsp5 and several mutant genes encoding actin cytoskeletal proteins. rsp5 arp2, rsp5 end3, and rsp5 sla2 double mutants all show synthetic growth defects. Overexpressed wild-type RSP5 or mutant rsp5 genes with lesions of some WW domains suppress growth defects of arp2 and end3 cells. The defects in endocytosis, actin cytoskeleton, and morphology of arp2 are also suppressed. (ii) Rsp5p and Sla2p colocalize in abnormal F-actin-containing clumps in arp2 and pan1 mutants. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that Rsp5p and Act1p colocalize in pan1 mutants. (iii) Rsp5p and Sla2p coimmunoprecipitate and partially colocalize to punctate structures in wild-type cells. These studies provide the first evidence for an interaction of an actin cytoskeleton protein with Rsp5p. (iv) rsp5-w1 mutants are resistant to latrunculin A, a drug that sequesters actin monomers and depolymerizes actin filaments, consistent with the fact that Rsp5p is involved in actin cytoskeleton dynamics.

scholarly journals Candida albicans sphingolipid C9-methyltransferase is involved in hyphal elongation

Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (4) ◽  
pp. 1234-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Oura ◽  
Susumu Kajiwara
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Membrane Structures ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Chain Base ◽  
Long Chain Base ◽  
Long Chain

C9-methylated glucosylceramide is a fungus-specific sphingolipid. This lipid is a major membrane component in the cell and is thought to play important roles in the growth and virulence of several fungal species. To investigate the importance of the methyl branch of the long-chain base in glucosylceramides in pathogenic fungi, we identified and characterized a sphingolipid C9-methyltransferase gene (MTS1, C9-MethylTransferase for Sphingolipid 1) in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. The mts1 disruptant lacked (E,E)-9-methylsphinga-4,8-dienine in its glucosylceramides and contained (E)-sphing-4-enine and (E,E)-sphinga-4,8-dienine. Reintroducing the MTS1 gene into the mts1 disruptant restored the synthesis of (E,E)-9-methylsphinga-4,8-dienine in the glucosylceramides. We also created a disruptant of the HSX11 gene, encoding glucosylceramide synthase, which catalyses the final step of glucosylceramide synthesis, in C. albicans and compared this mutant with the mts1 disruptant. The C. albicans mts1 and hsx11 disruptants both had a decreased hyphal growth rate compared to the wild-type strain. The hsx11 disruptant showed increased susceptibility to SDS and fluconazole, similar to a previously reported sld1 disruptant that contained only (E)-sphing-4-enine in its glucosylceramides, suggesting that these strains have defects in their cell membrane structures. In contrast, the mts1 disruptant grew similarly to wild-type in medium containing SDS or fluconazole. These results suggest that the C9-methyl group of a long-chain base in glucosylceramides plays an important role in the hyphal elongation of C. albicans independent of lipid membrane disruption.

scholarly journals MoTea4-Mediated Polarized Growth Is Essential for Proper Asexual Development and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh N. Patkar ◽  
Angayarkanni Suresh ◽  
Naweed I. Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Polarized Growth ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aerial Hyphae

ABSTRACT Polarized growth is essential for cellular development and function and requires coordinated organization of the cytoskeletal elements. Tea4, an important polarity determinant, regulates localized F-actin assembly and bipolar growth in fission yeast and directional mycelial growth in Aspergillus. Here, we characterize Tea4 in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (MoTea4). Similar to its orthologs, MoTea4-green fluorescent protein (MoTea4-GFP) showed punctate distribution confined to growth zones, particularly in the mycelial tips, aerial hyphae, conidiophores, conidia, and infection structures (appressoria) in Magnaporthe. MoTea4 was dispensable for vegetative growth in Magnaporthe. However, loss of MoTea4 led to a zigzag morphology in the aerial hyphae and a huge reduction in conidiation. The majority of the tea4Δ conidia were two celled, as opposed to the tricellular conidia in the wild type. Structure-function analysis indicated that the SH3 and coiled-coil domains of MoTea4 are necessary for proper conidiation in Magnaporthe. The tea4Δ conidia failed to produce proper appressoria and consequently failed to infect the host plants. The tea4Δ conidia and germ tubes showed disorganized F-actin structures with significantly reduced numbers of cortical actin patches. Compared to the wild-type conidia, the tea4Δ conidia showed aberrant germination, poor cytoplasmic streaming, and persistent accumulation of lipid droplets, likely due to the impaired F-actin cytoskeleton. Latrunculin A treatment of germinating wild-type conidia showed that an intact F-actin cytoskeleton is indeed essential for appressorial development in Magnaporthe. We show that MoTea4 plays an important role in organizing the F-actin cytoskeleton and is essentially required for polarized growth and morphogenesis during asexual and pathogenic development in Magnaporthe.

A putative dual-specific protein phosphatase encoded by YVH1 controls growth, filamentation and virulence in Candida albicans

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2223-2232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomu Hanaoka ◽  
Takashi Umeyama ◽  
Keigo Ueno ◽  
Kenji Ueda ◽  
Teruhiko Beppu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Germ Tube ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cycle Progression

In response to stimulants, such as serum, the yeast cells of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans form germ tubes, which develop into hyphae. Yvh1p, one of the 29 protein phosphatases encoded in the C. albicans genome, has 45 % identity with the dual-specific phosphatase Yvh1p of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, Yvh1p expression was not observed during the initial step of germ tube formation, although Yvh1p was expressed constitutively in cell cycle progression of yeast or hyphal cells. In an attempt to analyse the function of Yvh1p phosphatase, the complete ORFs of both alleles were deleted by replacement with hph200–URA3–hph200 and ARG4. Although YVH1 has nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms in its coding sequence, both YVH1 alleles were able to complement the YVH1 gene disruptant. The vegetative growth of Δyvh1 was significantly slower than the wild-type. The hyphal growth of Δyvh1 on agar, or in a liquid medium, was also slower than the wild-type because of the delay in nuclear division and septum formation, although germ tube formation was similar between the wild-type and the disruptant. Despite the slow hyphal growth, the expression of several hypha-specific genes in Δyvh1 was not delayed or repressed compared with that of the wild-type. Infection studies using mouse models revealed that the virulence of Δyvh1 was less than that of the wild-type. Thus, YVH1 contributes to normal vegetative yeast or hyphal cell cycle progression and pathogenicity, but not to germ tube formation.

scholarly journals In Vivo Role for Actin-regulating Kinases in Endocytosis and Yeast Epsin Phosphorylation

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3668-3679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadiya A. Watson ◽  
M. Jamie T. V. Cope ◽  
Aaron Chris Groen ◽  
David G. Drubin ◽  
Beverly Wendland
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Signaling Proteins ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Endocytic Protein ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes ◽  
Actin Localization ◽  
Synthetic Growth

The yeast actin-regulating kinases Ark1p and Prk1p are signaling proteins localized to cortical actin patches, which may be sites of endocytosis. Interactions between the endocytic proteins Pan1p and End3p may be regulated by Prk1p-dependent threonine phosphorylation of Pan1p within the consensus sequence [L/I]xxQxTG. We identified two Prk1p phosphorylation sites within the Pan1p-binding protein Ent1p, a yeast epsin homologue, and demonstrate Prk1p-dependent phosphorylation of both threonines. Converting both threonines to either glutamate or alanine mimics constitutively phosphorylated or dephosphorylated Ent1p, respectively. Synthetic growth defects were observed in a pan1–20 ENT1EE double mutant, suggesting that Ent1p phosphorylation negatively regulates the formation/activity of a Pan1p–Ent1p complex. Interestingly,pan1–20 ent2Δ but not pan1–20 ent1Δdouble mutants had improved growth and endocytosis over thepan1–20 mutant. We found that actin-regulating Ser/Thr kinase (ARK) mutants exhibit endocytic defects and that overexpressing either wild-type or alanine-substituted Ent1p partially suppressed phenotypes associated with loss of ARK kinases, including growth, endocytosis, and actin localization defects. Consistent with synthetic growth defects of pan1–20 ENT1EE cells, overexpressing glutamate-substituted Ent1p was deleterious to ARK mutants. Surprisingly, overexpressing the related Ent2p protein could not suppress ARK kinase mutant phenotypes. These results suggest that Ent1p and Ent2p are not completely redundant and may perform opposing functions in endocytosis. These data support the model that, as for clathrin-dependent recycling of synaptic vesicles, yeast endocytic protein phosphorylation inhibits endocytic functions.

scholarly journals A Glutathione-independent Glyoxalase of the DJ-1 Superfamily Plays an Important Role in Managing Metabolically Generated Methylglyoxal in Candida albicans

2013 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. 1662-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Hasim ◽  
Nur Ahmad Hussin ◽  
Fadhel Alomar ◽  
Keshore R. Bidasee ◽  
Kenneth W. Nickerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Catalytic Triad ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Central Metabolism ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Strain Sc5314 ◽  
Dependent Growth

Methylglyoxal is a cytotoxic reactive carbonyl compound produced by central metabolism. Dedicated glyoxalases convert methylglyoxal to d-lactate using multiple catalytic strategies. In this study, the DJ-1 superfamily member ORF 19.251/GLX3 from Candida albicans is shown to possess glyoxalase activity, making this the first demonstrated glutathione-independent glyoxalase in fungi. The crystal structure of Glx3p indicates that the protein is a monomer containing the catalytic triad Cys136-His137-Glu168. Purified Glx3p has an in vitro methylglyoxalase activity (Km = 5.5 mm and kcat = 7.8 s−1) that is significantly greater than that of more distantly related members of the DJ-1 superfamily. A close Glx3p homolog from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YDR533C/Hsp31) also has glyoxalase activity, suggesting that fungal members of the Hsp31 clade of the DJ-1 superfamily are all probable glutathione-independent glyoxalases. A homozygous glx3 null mutant in C. albicans strain SC5314 displays greater sensitivity to millimolar levels of exogenous methylglyoxal, elevated levels of intracellular methylglyoxal, and carbon source-dependent growth defects, especially when grown on glycerol. These phenotypic defects are complemented by restoration of the wild-type GLX3 locus. The growth defect of Glx3-deficient cells in glycerol is also partially complemented by added inorganic phosphate, which is not observed for wild-type or glucose-grown cells. Therefore, C. albicans Glx3 and its fungal homologs are physiologically relevant glutathione-independent glyoxalases that are not redundant with the previously characterized glutathione-dependent GLO1/GLO2 system. In addition to its role in detoxifying glyoxals, Glx3 and its close homologs may have other important roles in stress response.

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of Myosin I Tail Regions in Candida albicans

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1272-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Oberholzer ◽  
Tatiana L. Iouk ◽  
David Y. Thomas ◽  
Malcolm Whiteway
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Tail Domain ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Rhodamine Phalloidin ◽  
Myosin I ◽  
Hyphal Formation ◽  
Hyphal Tip

ABSTRACT The molecular motor myosin I is required for hyphal growth in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Specific myosin I functions were investigated by a deletion analysis of five neck and tail regions. Hyphal formation requires both the TH1 region and the IQ motifs. The TH2 region is important for optimal hyphal growth. All of the regions, except for the SH3 and acidic (A) regions that were examined individually, were required for the localization of myosin I at the hyphal tip. Similarly, all of the domains were required for the association of myosin I with pelletable actin-bound complexes. Moreover, the hyphal tip localization of cortical actin patches, identified by both rhodamine-phalloidin staining and Arp3-green fluorescent protein signals, was dependent on myosin I. Double deletion of the A and SH3 domains depolarized the distribution of the cortical actin patches without affecting the ability of the mutant to form hyphae, suggesting that myosin I has distinct functions in these processes. Among the six myosin I tail domain mutants, the ability to form hyphae was strictly correlated with endocytosis. We propose that the uptake of cell wall remodeling enzymes and excess plasma membrane is critical for hyphal formation.

scholarly journals Disruption of the Candida albicans TPS1Gene Encoding Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase Impairs Formation of Hyphae and Decreases Infectivity

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (15) ◽  
pp. 3809-3815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Zaragoza ◽  
Miguel A. Blazquez ◽  
Carlos Gancedo
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Calf Serum ◽  
Sugar Metabolism ◽  
Functional Complementation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Phosphate Synthase

ABSTRACT The TPS1 gene from Candida albicans, which encodes trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, has been cloned by functional complementation of a tps1 mutant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast with the wild-type strain, the doubletps1/tps1 disruptant did not accumulate trehalose at stationary phase or after heat shock. Growth of thetps1/tps1 disruptant at 30°C was indistinguishable from that of the wild type. However, at 42°C it did not grow on glucose or fructose but grew normally on galactose or glycerol. At 37°C, the yeast-hypha transition in the mutant in glucose-calf serum medium did not occur. During growth at 42°C, the mutant did not form hyphae in galactose or in glycerol. Some of the growth defects observed may be traced to an unbalanced sugar metabolism that reduces the cellular content of ATP. Mice inoculated with 106 CFU of thetps1/tps1 mutant did not show visible symptoms of infection 16 days after inoculation, while those similarly inoculated with wild-type cells were dead 12 days after inoculation.

scholarly journals Deletion of the CaBIG1 Gene Reduces β-1,6-Glucan Synthesis, Filamentation, Adhesion, and Virulence in Candida albicans

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 2373-2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Umeyama ◽  
Aki Kaneko ◽  
Hiroshi Watanabe ◽  
Asuka Hirai ◽  
Yoshimasa Uehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Functional Homolog ◽  
Solid Agar ◽  
Adhesion Failure ◽  
Specific Localization ◽  
Glucan Synthesis

ABSTRACT The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is able to change its shape in response to various environmental signals. We analyzed the C. albicans BIG1 homolog, which might be involved in β-1,6-glucan biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. C. albicans BIG1 is a functional homolog of an S. cerevisiae BIG1 gene, because the slow growth of an S. cerevisiae big1 mutant was restored by introduction of C. albicans BIG1. CaBig1p was expressed constitutively in both the yeast and hyphal forms. A specific localization of CaBig1p at the endoplasmic reticulum or plasma membrane similar to the subcellular localization of S. cerevisiae Big1p was observed in yeast form. The content of β-1,6-glucan in the cell wall was decreased in the Cabig1Δ strain in comparison with the wild-type or reconstituted strain. The C. albicans BIG1 disruptant showed reduced filamentation on a solid agar medium and in a liquid medium. The Cabig1Δ mutant showed markedly attenuated virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Adherence to human epithelial HeLa cells and fungal burden in kidneys of infected mice were reduced in the Cabig1Δ mutant. Deletion of CaBIG1 abolished hyphal growth and invasiveness in the kidneys of infected mice. Our results indicate that adhesion failure and morphological abnormality contribute to the attenuated virulence of the Cabig1Δ mutant.

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