scholarly journals The MAP kinase signal transduction network in Candida albicans

Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Alonso Monge ◽  
E. Román ◽  
C. Nombela ◽  
J. Pla
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Map Kinases ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Cell Integrity ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
Chlamydospore Formation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase-mediated pathways are key elements in sensing and transmitting the response of cells to environmental conditions by the sequential action of phosphorylation events. In the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, different routes have been identified by genetic analysis, and especially by the phenotypic characterization of mutants altered in the Mkc1, Cek1/2 and Hog1 MAP kinases. The cell integrity (or MKC1-mediated) pathway is primarily involved in the biogenesis of the cell wall. The HOG pathway participates in the response to osmotic stress while the Cek1 pathway mediates mating and filamentation. Their actual functions are, however, much broader and Mkc1 senses several types of stress, while Hog1 is also responsive to other stress conditions and participates in two morphogenetic programmes: filamentation and chlamydospore formation. Furthermore, it has been recently shown that Cek1 participates in a putative pathway involved in the construction of the cell wall and which seems to be operative under basal conditions. As these stimuli are frequently encountered in the human host, they provide a reasonable explanation for the significant reduction in pathogenicity that several signal transduction mutants show in certain animal models of virulence. MAPK pathways therefore represent an attractive multienzymic system for which novel antifungal therapy could be designed.

scholarly journals The Cek1 and Hog1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Play Complementary Roles in Cell Wall Biogenesis and Chlamydospore Formation in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Eisman ◽  
R. Alonso-Monge ◽  
E. Román ◽  
D. Arana ◽  
C. Nombela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Map Kinase ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
Cell Wall Biogenesis ◽  
Chlamydospore Formation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Morphological Transitions ◽  
Relationship Of

ABSTRACT The Hog1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase mediates an adaptive response to both osmotic and oxidative stress in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This protein also participates in two distinct morphogenetic processes, namely the yeast-to-hypha transition (as a repressor) and chlamydospore formation (as an inducer). We show here that repression of filamentous growth occurs both under serum limitation and under other partially inducing conditions, such as low temperature, low pH, or nitrogen starvation. To understand the relationship of the HOG pathway to other MAP kinase cascades that also play a role in morphological transitions, we have constructed and characterized a set of double mutants in which we deleted both the HOG1 gene and other signaling elements (the CST20, CLA4, and HST7 kinases, the CPH1 and EFG1 transcription factors, and the CPP1 protein phosphatase). We also show that Hog1 prevents the yeast-to-hypha switch independent of all the elements analyzed and that the inability of the hog1 mutants to form chlamydospores is suppressed when additional elements of the CEK1 pathway (CST20 or HST7) are altered. Finally, we report that Hog1 represses the activation of the Cek1 MAP kinase under basal conditions and that Cek1 activation correlates with resistance to certain cell wall inhibitors (such as Congo red), demonstrating a role for this pathway in cell wall biogenesis.

scholarly journals Msb2 Signaling Mucin Controls Activation of Cek1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Candida albicans

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1235-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvira Román ◽  
Fabien Cottier ◽  
Joachim F. Ernst ◽  
Jesús Pla
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Osmotic Shock ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
High Osmolarity ◽  
Cell Wall Biogenesis ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT We have characterized the role that the Msb2 protein plays in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans by the use of mutants defective in the putative upstream components of the HOG pathway. Msb2, in cooperation with Sho1, controls the activation of the Cek1 mitogen-activated protein kinase under conditions that damage the cell wall, thus defining Msb2 as a signaling element of this pathway in the fungus. msb2 mutants display altered sensitivity to Congo red, caspofungin, zymolyase, or tunicamycin, indicating that this protein is involved in cell wall biogenesis. Msb2 (as well as Sho1 and Hst7) is involved in the transmission of the signal toward Cek1 mediated by the Cdc42 GTPase, as revealed by the use of activated alleles (Cdc42G12V) of this protein. msb2 mutants have a stronger defective invasion phenotype than sho1 mutants when tested on certain solid media that use mannitol or sucrose as a carbon source or under hypoxia. Interestingly, Msb2 contributes to growth under conditions of high osmolarity when both branches of the HOG pathway are altered, as triple ssk1 msb2 sho1 mutants (but not any single or double mutant) are osmosensitive. However, this phenomenon is independent of the presence of Hog1, as Hog1 phosphorylation, Hog1 translocation to the nucleus, and glycerol accumulation are not affected in this mutant following an osmotic shock. These results reveal essential functions in morphogenesis, invasion, cell wall biogenesis, and growth under conditions of high osmolarity for Msb2 in C. albicans and suggest the divergence and specialization of this signaling pathway in filamentous fungi.

scholarly journals PKC1 Is Essential for Protection against both Oxidative and Nitrosative Stresses, Cell Integrity, and Normal Manifestation of Virulence Factors in the Pathogenic Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1685-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly J. Gerik ◽  
Sujit R. Bhimireddy ◽  
Jan S. Ryerse ◽  
Charles A. Specht ◽  
Jennifer K. Lodge
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Nitrosative Stress ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cell Integrity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Kinase Cascade

ABSTRACT Cell wall integrity is crucial for fungal growth, survival, and pathogenesis. Responses to environmental stresses are mediated by the highly conserved Pkc1 protein and its downstream components. In this study, we demonstrate that both oxidative and nitrosative stresses activate the PKC1 cell integrity pathway in wild-type cells, as measured by phosphorylation of Mpk1, the terminal protein in the PKC1 phosphorylation cascade. Furthermore, deletion of PKC1 shows that this gene is essential for defense against both oxidative and nitrosative stresses; however, other genes involved directly in the PKC1 pathway are dispensable for protection against these stresses. This suggests that Pkc1 may have multiple and alternative functions other than activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade from a “top-down” approach. Deletion of PKC1 also causes osmotic instability, temperature sensitivity, severe sensitivity to cell wall-inhibiting agents, and alterations in capsule and melanin. Furthermore, the vital cell wall components chitin and its deacetylated form chitosan appear to be mislocalized in a pkc1Δ strain, although this mutant contains wild-type levels of both of these polymers. These data indicate that loss of Pkc1 has pleiotropic effects because it is central to many functions either dependent on or independent of PKC1 pathway activation. Notably, this is the first time that Pkc1 has been implicated in protection against nitrosative stress in any organism.

scholarly journals The Yeast Protein Kinase C Cell Integrity Pathway Mediates Tolerance to the Antifungal Drug Caspofungin through Activation of Slt2p Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 1200-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Reinoso-Martín ◽  
Christoph Schüller ◽  
Manuela Schuetzer-Muehlbauer ◽  
Karl Kuchler
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Antifungal Drug ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cell Integrity ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Yeast Genes

ABSTRACT The echinocandin caspofungin is a new antifungal drug that blocks cell wall synthesis through inhibition of β-(1-3)-glucan synthesis. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells are able to tolerate rather high caspofungin concentrations, displaying high viability at low caspofungin doses. To identify yeast genes implicated in caspofungin tolerance, we performed a genome-wide microarray analysis. Strikingly, caspofungin treatment rapidly induces a set of genes from the protein kinase C (PKC) cell integrity signaling pathway, as well as those required for cell wall maintenance and architecture. The mitogen-activated protein kinase Slt2p is rapidly activated by phosphorylation, triggering signaling through the PKC pathway. Cells lacking genes such as SLT2, BCK1, and PKC1, as well as the caspofungin target gene, FKS1, display pronounced hypersensitivity, demonstrating that the PKC pathway is required for caspofungin tolerance. Notably, the cell surface integrity sensor Wsc1p, but not the sensors Wsc2-4p and Mid2p, is required for sensing caspofungin perturbations. The expression modulation of PKC target genes requires the transcription factor Rlm1p, which controls expression of several cell wall synthesis and maintenance genes. Thus, caspofungin-induced cell wall damage requires Wsc1p as a dedicated sensor to launch a protective response through the activated salvage pathway for de novo cell wall synthesis. Our results establish caspofungin as a specific activator of Slt2p stress signaling in baker's yeast.

scholarly journals The fission yeast pmk1+ gene encodes a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase homolog which regulates cell integrity and functions coordinately with the protein kinase C pathway.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 6752-6764 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Toda ◽  
S Dhut ◽  
G Superti-Furga ◽  
Y Gotoh ◽  
E Nishida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cell Integrity ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Mapk Gene

We have isolated a gene, pmk1+, a third mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene homolog from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The predicted amino acid sequence shows the most homology (63 to 65% identity) to those of budding yeast Saccharomyces Mpk1 and Candida Mkc1. The Pmk1 protein contains phosphorylated tyrosines, and the level of tyrosine phosphorylation was increased in the dsp1 mutant which lacks an attenuating phosphatase for Pmk1. The level of tyrosine phosphorylation appears constant during hypotonic or heat shock treatment. The cells with pmk1 deleted (delta pmk1) are viable but show various defective phenotypes, including cell wall weakness, abnormal cell shape, a cytokinesis defect, and altered sensitivities to cations, such as hypersensitivity to potassium and resistance to sodium. Consistent with a high degree of conservation of amino acid sequence, multicopy plasmids containing the MPK1 gene rescued the defective phenotypes of the delta pmk1 mutant. The frog MAPK gene also suppressed the pmk1 disruptant. The results of genetic analysis indicated that Pmk1 lies on a novel MAPK pathway which does not overlap functionally with the other two MAPK pathways, the Spk1-dependent mating signal pathway and Sty1/Spc1/Phh1-dependent stress-sensing pathway. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mpk1 is involved in cell wall integrity and functions downstream of the protein kinase C homolog. In contrast, in S. pombe, Pmk1 may not act in a linear manner with respect to fission yeast protein kinase C homologs. Interestingly, however, these two pathways are not independent; instead, they regulate cell integrity in a coordinate manner.

scholarly journals Functional characterization of the MKC1 gene of Candida albicans, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase homolog related to cell integrity.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 2197-2206 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Navarro-García ◽  
M Sánchez ◽  
J Pla ◽  
C Nombela
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Map Kinase ◽  
Map Kinases ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Lytic Enzyme ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Kinase Gene ◽  
Enzyme Preparations ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases represent a group of serine/threonine protein kinases playing a central role in signal transduction processes in eukaryotic cells. Using a strategy based on the complementation of the thermosensitive autolytic phenotype of slt2 null mutants, we have isolated a Candida albicans homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MAP kinase gene SLT2 (MPK1), which is involved in the recently outlined PKC1-controlled signalling pathway. The isolated gene, named MKC1 (MAP kinase from C. albicans), coded for a putative protein, Mkc1p, of 58,320 Da that displayed all the characteristic domains of MAP kinases and was 55% identical to S. cerevisiae Slt2p (Mpk1p). The MKC1 gene was deleted in a diploid Candida strain, and heterozygous and homozygous strains, in both Ura+ and Ura- backgrounds, were obtained to facilitate the analysis of the function of the gene. Deletion of the two alleles of the MKC1 gene gave rise to viable cells that grew at 28 and 37 degrees C but, nevertheless, displayed a variety of phenotypic traits under more stringent conditions. These included a low growth yield and a loss of viability in cultures grown at 42 degrees C, a high sensitivity to thermal shocks at 55 degrees C, an enhanced susceptibility to caffeine that was osmotically remediable, and the formation of a weak cell wall with a very low resistance to complex lytic enzyme preparations. The analysis of the functions downstream of the MKC1 gene should contribute to understanding of the connection of growth and morphogenesis in pathogenic fungi.

scholarly journals Transcriptional Coregulation by the Cell Integrity Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Slt2 and the Cell Cycle Regulator Swi4

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6515-6528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Baetz ◽  
Jason Moffat ◽  
Jennifer Haynes ◽  
Michael Chang ◽  
Brenda Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Cell Integrity ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the heterodimeric transcription factor SBF (for SCB binding factor) is composed of Swi4 and Swi6 and activates gene expression at the G1/S-phase transition of the mitotic cell cycle. Cell cycle commitment is associated not only with major alterations in gene expression but also with highly polarized cell growth; the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Slt2 is required to maintain cell wall integrity during periods of polarized growth and cell wall stress. We describe experiments aimed at defining the regulatory pathway involving the cell cycle transcription factor SBF and Slt2-MAPK. Gene expression assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed Slt2-dependent recruitment of SBF to the promoters of the G1 cyclinsPCL1 and PCL2 after activation of the Slt2-MAPK pathway. We performed DNA microarray analysis and identified other genes whose expression was reduced in both SLT2and SWI4 deletion strains. Genes that are sensitive to both Slt2 and Swi4 appear to be uniquely regulated and reveal a role for Swi4, the DNA-binding component of SBF, which is independent of the regulatory subunit Swi6. Some of the Swi4- and Slt2-dependent genes do not require Swi6 for either their expression or for Swi4 localization to their promoters. Consistent with these results, we found a direct interaction between Swi4 and Slt2. Our results establish a new Slt2-dependent mode of Swi4 regulation and suggest roles for Swi4 beyond its prominent role in controlling cell cycle transcription.

scholarly journals Histatin 5 Initiates Osmotic Stress Response in Candida albicans via Activation of the Hog1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 1876-1888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slavena Vylkova ◽  
Woong Sik Jang ◽  
Wansheng Li ◽  
Namrata Nayyar ◽  
Mira Edgerton
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Osmotic Stress ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
Histatin 5 ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Histatin 5 (Hst 5) is a salivary cationic peptide that has toxicity for Candida albicans by inducing rapid cellular ion imbalance and cell volume loss. Microarray analyses of peptide-treated cells were used to evaluate global gene responses elicited by Hst 5. The major transcriptional response of C. albicans to Hst 5 was expression of genes involved in adaptation to osmotic stress, including production of glycerol (RHR2, SKO1, and PDC11) and the general stress response (CTA1 and HSP70). The oxidative-stress genes AHP1, TRX1, and GPX1 were mildly induced by Hst 5. Cell defense against Hst 5 was dependent on the Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, since C. albicans hog1/hog1 mutants were significantly hypersensitive to Hst 5 but not to Mkc1 MAPK or Cek1 MAPK mutants. Activation of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway was demonstrated by phosphorylation of Hog1 MAPK as well as by glycerol production following Hst 5 treatment in a dose-dependent manner. C. albicans cells prestressed with sorbitol were less sensitive to subsequent Hst 5 treatment; however, cells treated concurrently with osmotic stress and Hst 5 were hypersensitive to Hst 5. In contrast, cells subjected to oxidative stress had no difference in sensitivity to Hst 5. These results suggest a common underlying cellular response to osmotic stress and Hst 5. The HOG stress response pathway likely represents a significant and effective challenge to physiological levels of Hst 5 and other toxic peptides in fungal cells.

scholarly journals Cdc37p Is Required for Stress-Induced High-Osmolarity Glycerol and Protein Kinase C Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Functionality by Interaction with Hog1p and Slt2p (Mpk1p)

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricija Hawle ◽  
Danielle Horst ◽  
Jan Paul Bebelman ◽  
Xiao Xian Yang ◽  
Marco Siderius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
High Osmolarity ◽  
High Osmolarity Glycerol ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizes rapidly responding mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades to adapt efficiently to a changing environment. Here we report that phosphorylation of Cdc37p, an Hsp90 cochaperone, by casein kinase 2 controls the functionality of two MAPK cascades in yeast. These pathways, the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway and the cell integrity (protein kinase C) MAPK pathway, mediate adaptive responses to high osmotic and cell wall stresses, respectively. Mutation of the phosphorylation site Ser14 in Cdc37p renders cells sensitive to osmotic stress and cell wall perturbation by calcofluor white. We found that levels of the MAPKs Hog1p and Slt2p (Mpk1p) in cells are reduced in a cdc37-S14A mutant, and consequently downstream responses mediated by Hog1p and Slt2p are compromised. Furthermore, we present evidence that Hog1p and Slt2p both interact in a complex with Cdc37p in vivo, something that has not been reported previously. The interaction of Hsp90, Slt2p, and Hog1p with Cdc37p depends on the phosphorylation status of Cdc37p. In fact, our biochemical data show that the osmosensitive phenotype of the cdc37-S14A mutant is due to the loss of the interaction between Cdc37p, Hog1p, and Hsp90. Likewise, during cell wall stress, the interaction of Slt2p with Cdc37p and Hsp90 is crucial for Slt2p-dependent downstream responses, such as the activation of the transcription factor Rlm1p. Interestingly, phosphorylated Slt2p, but not phosphorylated Hog1p, has an increased affinity for Cdc37p. Together these observations suggest that Cdc37p acts as a regulator of MAPK signaling.

scholarly journals Hog1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Interrupts Signal Transduction between the Kss1 MAPK and the Tec1 Transcription Factor To Maintain Pathway Specificity

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa R. Shock ◽  
James Thompson ◽  
John R. Yates ◽  
Hiten D. Madhani
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Nuclear Accumulation ◽  
Hog Pathway ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mating, filamentous growth (FG), and high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways share components and yet mediate distinct responses to different extracellular signals. Cross talk is suppressed between the mating and FG pathways because mating signaling induces the destruction of the FG transcription factor Tec1. We show here that HOG pathway activation results in phosphorylation of the FG MAPK, Kss1, and the MAPKK, Ste7. However, FG transcription is not activated because HOG signaling prevents the activation of Tec1. In contrast to the mating pathway, we find that the mechanism involves the inhibition of DNA binding by Tec1 rather than its destruction. We also find that nuclear accumulation of Tec1 is not affected by HOG signaling. Inhibition by Hog1 is apparently indirect since it does not require any of the consensus S/TP MAPK phosphorylation sites on Tec1, its DNA-binding partner Ste12, or the associated regulators Dig1 or Dig2. It also does not require the consensus MAPK sites of the Ste11 activator Ste50, in contrast to a recent proposal for a role for negative feedback in specificity. Our results demonstrate that HOG signaling interrupts the FG pathway signal transduction between the phosphorylation of Kss1 and the activation of DNA binding by Tec1.

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