scholarly journals Aspergillus nidulans Ambient pH Signaling Does Not Require Endocytosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lucena-Agell ◽  
Antonio Galindo ◽  
Herbert N. Arst ◽  
Miguel A. Peñalva

ABSTRACT Aspergillus nidulans (Pal) ambient pH signaling takes place in cortical structures containing components of the ESCRT pathway, which are hijacked by the alkaline pH-activated, ubiquitin-modified version of the arrestin-like protein PalF and taken to the plasma membrane. There, ESCRTs scaffold the assembly of dedicated Pal proteins acting downstream. The molecular details of this pathway, which results in the two-step proteolytic processing of the transcription factor PacC, have received considerable attention due to the key role that it plays in fungal pathogenicity. While current evidence strongly indicates that the pH signaling role of ESCRT complexes is limited to plasma membrane-associated structures where PacC proteolysis would take place, the localization of the PalB protease, which almost certainly catalyzes the first and only pH-regulated proteolytic step, had not been investigated. In view of ESCRT participation, this formally leaves open the possibility that PalB activation requires endocytic internalization. As endocytosis is essential for hyphal growth, nonlethal endocytic mutations are predicted to cause an incomplete block. We used a SynA internalization assay to measure the extent to which any given mutation prevents endocytosis. We show that none of the tested mutations impairing endocytosis to different degrees, including slaB1 , conditionally causing a complete block, have any effect on the activation of the pathway. We further show that PalB, like PalA and PalC, localizes to cortical structures in an alkaline pH-dependent manner. Therefore, signaling through the Pal pathway does not involve endocytosis.

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 908-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Bühler ◽  
Daisuke Hagiwara ◽  
Norio Takeshita

ABSTRACT Polarized growth in filamentous fungi needs a continuous supply of proteins and lipids to the growing hyphal tip. One of the important membrane compounds in fungi is ergosterol. At the apical plasma membrane ergosterol accumulations, which are called sterol-rich plasma membrane domains (SRDs). The exact roles and formation mechanism of the SRDs remained unclear, although the importance has been recognized for hyphal growth. Transport of ergosterol to hyphal tips is thought to be important for the organization of the SRDs. Oxysterol binding proteins, which are conserved from yeast to human, are involved in nonvesicular sterol transport. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae seven oxysterol-binding protein homologues (OSH1 to -7) play a role in ergosterol distribution between closely located membranes independent of vesicle transport. We found five homologous genes ( oshA to oshE ) in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus nidulans . The functions of OshA-E were characterized by gene deletion and subcellular localization. Each gene-deletion strain showed characteristic phenotypes and different sensitivities to ergosterol-associated drugs. Green fluorescent protein-tagged Osh proteins showed specific localization in the late Golgi compartments, puncta associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, or diffusely in the cytoplasm. The genes expression and regulation were investigated in a medically important species Aspergillus fumigatus , as well as A. nidulans . Our results suggest that each Osh protein plays a role in ergosterol distribution at distinct sites and contributes to proper fungal growth.


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 966-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrod R. Fortwendel ◽  
Praveen R. Juvvadi ◽  
Luise E. Rogg ◽  
Yohannes G. Asfaw ◽  
Kimberlie A. Burns ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Ras is a highly conserved GTPase protein that is essential for proper polarized morphogenesis of filamentous fungi. Localization of Ras proteins to the plasma membrane and endomembranes through posttranslational addition of farnesyl and palmitoyl residues is an important mechanism through which cells provide specificity to Ras signal output. Although the Aspergillus fumigatus RasA protein is known to be a major regulator of growth and development, the membrane distribution of RasA during polarized morphogenesis and the role of properly localized Ras signaling in virulence of a pathogenic mold remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that Aspergillus fumigatus RasA localizes primarily to the plasma membrane of actively growing hyphae. We show that treatment with the palmitoylation inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate disrupts normal RasA plasma membrane association and decreases hyphal growth. Targeted mutations of the highly conserved RasA palmitoylation motif also mislocalized RasA from the plasma membrane and led to severe hyphal abnormalities, cell wall structural changes, and reduced virulence in murine invasive aspergillosis. Finally, we provide evidence that proper RasA localization is independent of the Ras palmitoyltransferase homolog, encoded by erfB , but requires the palmitoyltransferase complex subunit, encoded by erfD . Our results demonstrate that plasma membrane-associated RasA is critical for polarized morphogenesis, cell wall stability, and virulence in A. fumigatus .


2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1504-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
América Hervás-Aguilar ◽  
Miguel A. Peñalva

ABSTRACT The Aspergillus nidulans endocytic internalization protein SlaB is essential, in agreement with the key role in apical extension attributed to endocytosis. We constructed, by gene replacement, a nitrate-inducible, ammonium-repressible slaB1 allele for conditional SlaB expression. Video microscopy showed that repressed slaB1 cells are able to establish but unable to maintain a stable polarity axis, arresting growth with budding-yeast-like morphology shortly after initially normal germ tube emergence. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged secretory v-SNARE SynA, which continuously recycles to the plasma membrane after being efficiently endocytosed, we establish that SlaB is crucial for endocytosis, although it is dispensable for the anterograde traffic of SynA and of the t-SNARE Pep12 to the plasma and vacuolar membrane, respectively. By confocal microscopy, repressed slaB1 germlings show deep plasma membrane invaginations. Ammonium-to-nitrate medium shift experiments demonstrated reversibility of the null polarity maintenance phenotype and correlation of normal apical extension with resumption of SynA endocytosis. In contrast, SlaB downregulation in hyphae that had progressed far beyond germ tube emergence led to marked polarity maintenance defects correlating with deficient SynA endocytosis. Thus, the strict correlation between abolishment of endocytosis and disability of polarity maintenance that we report here supports the view that hyphal growth requires coupling of secretion and endocytosis. However, downregulated slaB1 cells form F-actin clumps containing the actin-binding protein AbpA, and thus F-actin misregulation cannot be completely disregarded as a possible contributor to defective apical extension. Latrunculin B treatment of SlaB-downregulated tips reduced the formation of AbpA clumps without promoting growth and revealed the formation of cortical “comets” of AbpA.


2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (7) ◽  
pp. e00068-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Wong ◽  
Margaret A. Grau ◽  
Anirudh K. Singh ◽  
Shireen A. Woodiga ◽  
Samantha J. King

ABSTRACTStreptococcus gordoniiis an early colonizer of the oral cavity. Although a variety ofS. gordoniiadherence mechanisms have been described, current dogma is that the major receptor forS. gordoniiis sialic acid. However, as many bacterial species in the oral cavity produce neuraminidase that can cleave terminal sialic acid, it is unclear whetherS. gordoniirelies on sialic acid for adherence to oral surfaces or if this species has developed alternative binding strategies. Previous studies have examined adherence to immobilized glycoconjugates and identified binding to additional glycans, but no prior studies have defined the contribution of these different glycan structures in adherence to oral epithelial cells. We determined that the majority ofS. gordoniistrains tested did not rely on sialic acid for efficient adherence. In fact, adherence of some strains was significantly increased following neuraminidase treatment. Further investigation of representative strains that do not rely on sialic acid for adherence revealed binding not only to sialic acid via the serine-rich repeat protein GspB but also to β-1,4-linked galactose. Adherence to this carbohydrate occurs via an unknown adhesin distinct from those utilized byStreptococcus oralisandStreptococcus pneumoniae. Demonstrating the potential biological relevance of binding to this cryptic receptor, we established thatS. oralisincreasesS. gordoniiadherence in a neuraminidase-dependent manner. These data suggest thatS. gordoniihas evolved to simultaneously utilize both terminal and cryptic receptors in response to the production of neuraminidase by other species in the oral environment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 4503-4510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Dejima ◽  
Kensuke Shibata ◽  
Hisakata Yamada ◽  
Hiromitsu Hara ◽  
Yoichiro Iwakura ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInterleukin-17A (IL-17A)-producing γδ T cells differentiate in the fetal thymus and reside in the peripheral tissues, such as the lungs of naïve adult mice. We show here that naturally occurring γδ T cells play a protective role in the lung at a very early stage after systemic infection withCandida albicans.Selective depletion of neutrophils byin vivoadministration of anti-Ly6G monoclonal antibody (MAb) impaired fungal clearance more prominently in the lung than in the kidney 24 h after intravenous infection withC. albicans.Rapid and transient production of IL-23 was detected in the lung at 12 h, preceding IL-17A production and the influx of neutrophils, which reached a peak at 24 h after infection. IL-17A knockout (KO) mice showed reduced infiltration of neutrophils concurrently with impaired fungal clearance in the lung after infection. The major source of IL-17A was the γδ T cell population in the lung, and Cδ KO mice showed little IL-17A production and reduced neutrophil infiltration after infection. Early IL-23 production in a TLR2/MyD88-dependent manner and IL-23-triggered tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2) signaling were essential for IL-17A production by γδ T cells. Thus, our study demonstrated a novel role of naturally occurring IL-17A-producing γδ T cells in the first line of host defense againstC. albicansinfection.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 3420-3430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sha Wang ◽  
Xiao Liu ◽  
Hui Qian ◽  
Shizhu Zhang ◽  
Ling Lu

ABSTRACTThe eukaryotic calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is crucial for the environmental adaption of fungi. However, the mechanism of coordinate regulation of the response to salt stress by calcineurin and the high-affinity calcium channel CchA in fungi is not well understood. Here we show that the deletion ofcchAsuppresses the hyphal growth defects caused by the loss of calcineurin under salt stress inAspergillus nidulans. Additionally, the hypersensitivity of the ΔcnaAstrain to extracellular calcium and cell-wall-damaging agents can be suppressed bycchAdeletion. Using the calcium-sensitive photoprotein aequorin to monitor the cytoplasmic Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]c) in living cells, we found that calcineurin negatively regulates CchA on calcium uptake in response to external calcium in normally cultured cells. However, in salt-stress-pretreated cells, loss of eithercnaAorcchAsignificantly decreased the [Ca2+]c, but a deficiency in bothcnaAandcchAswitches the [Ca2+]cto the reference strain level, indicating that calcineurin and CchA synergistically coordinate calcium influx under salt stress. Moreover, real-time PCR results showed that the dysfunction ofcchAin the ΔcnaAstrain dramatically restored the expression ofenaA(a major determinant for sodium detoxification), which was abolished in the ΔcnaAstrain under salt stress. These results suggest that double deficiencies ofcnaAandcchAcould bypass the requirement of calcineurin to induceenaAexpression under salt stress. Finally, YvcA, a member of the transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) protein family of vacuolar Ca2+channels, was proven to compensate for calcineurin-CchA in fungal salt stress adaption.IMPORTANCEThe feedback inhibition relationship between calcineurin and the calcium channel Cch1/Mid1 has been well recognized from yeast. Interestingly, our previous study (S. Wang et al., PLoS One7:e46564, 2012,http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046564) showed that the deletion ofcchAcould suppress the hyphal growth defects caused by the loss of calcineurin under salt stress inAspergillus nidulans. In this study, our findings suggest that fungi are able to develop a unique mechanism for adapting to environmental salt stress. Compared to cells cultured normally, the NaCl-pretreated cells had a remarkable increase in transient [Ca2+]c. Furthermore, we show that calcineurin and CchA are required to modulate cellular calcium levels and synergistically coordinate calcium influx under salt stress. Finally, YvcA, a member of of the TRPC family of vacuolar Ca2+channels, was proven to compensate for calcineurin-CchA in fungal salt stress adaption. The findings in this study provide insights into the complex regulatory links between calcineurin and CchA to maintain cytoplasmic Ca2+homeostasis in response to different environments.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1165-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans M. Klis ◽  
Stanley Brul

ABSTRACTThe wall proteome and the secretome of the fungal pathogenCandida albicanshelp it to thrive in multiple niches of the human body. Mass spectrometry has allowed researchers to study the dynamics of both subproteomes. Here, we discuss some major responses of the secretome to host-related environmental conditions. Three β-1,3-glucan-modifying enzymes, Mp65, Sun41, and Tos1, are consistently found in large amounts in culture supernatants, suggesting that they are needed for construction and expansion of the cell wall β-1,3-glucan layer and thus correlate with growth and might serve as diagnostic biomarkers. The genesENG1,CHT3, andSCW11, which encode an endoglucanase, the major chitinase, and a β-1,3-glucan-modifying enzyme, respectively, are periodically expressed and peak in M/G1. The corresponding protein abundances in the medium correlate with the degree of cell separation during single-yeast-cell, pseudohyphal, and hyphal growth. We also discuss the observation that cells treated with fluconazole, or other agents causing cell surface stress, form pseudohyphal aggregates. Fluconazole-treated cells secrete abundant amounts of the transglucosylase Phr1, which is involved in the accumulation of β-1,3-glucan in biofilms, raising the question whether this is a general response to cell surface stress. Other abundant secretome proteins also contribute to biofilm formation, emphasizing the important role of secretome proteins in this mode of growth. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these observations to therapeutic intervention. Together, these data illustrate thatC. albicansactively adapts its secretome to environmental conditions, thus promoting its survival in widely divergent niches of the human body.


1984 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
P H Reinhart ◽  
W M Taylor ◽  
F L Bygrave

The effect of alpha-adrenergic agonists on Ca2+ fluxes was examined in the perfused rat liver by using a combination of Ca2+-electrode and 45Ca2+-uptake techniques. We showed that net Ca2+ fluxes can be described by the activities of separate Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-efflux components, and that alpha-adrenergic agonists modulate the activity of both components in a time-dependent manner. Under resting conditions, Ca2+-uptake and -efflux activities are balanced, resulting in Ca2+ cycling across the plasma membrane. The alpha-adrenergic agonists vasopressin and angiotensin, but not glucagon, stimulate the rate of both Ca2+ efflux and Ca2+ uptake. During the first 2-3 min of alpha-agonist administration the effect on the efflux component is the greater, the net effect being efflux of Ca2+ from the cell. After 3-4 min of phenylephrine treatment, net Ca2+ movements are essentially complete, however, the rate of Ca2+ cycling is significantly increased. After removal of the alpha-agonist a large stimulation of the rate of Ca2+ uptake leads to the net accumulation of Ca2+ by the cell. The potential role of these Ca2+ flux changes in the expression of alpha-adrenergic-agonist-mediated effects is discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Véliz Rodriguez ◽  
Federica Moalli ◽  
Nadia Polentarutti ◽  
Moira Paroni ◽  
Eduardo Bonavita ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTToll interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) 8 (TIR8), also known as single Ig IL-1 receptor (IL-R)-related molecule, or SIGIRR, is a member of the IL-1R-like family, primarily expressed by epithelial cells. Current evidence suggests that TIR8 plays a nonredundant role as a negative regulatorin vivounder different inflammatory conditions that are dependent on IL-R and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. In the present study, we examined the role of TIR8 in innate resistance to acute lung infections caused byPseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients. We show that Tir8 deficiency in mice was associated with increased susceptibility to acuteP. aeruginosainfection, in terms of mortality and bacterial load, and to exacerbated local and systemic production of proinflammatory cytokines (gamma interferon [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], IL-1β, and IL-6) and chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, and CCL2). It has been reported that host defense againstP. aeruginosaacute lung infection can be improved by blocking IL-1 since exaggerated IL-1β production may be harmful for the host in this infection. In agreement with these data, IL-1RI deficiency rescues the phenotype observed in Tir8-deficient mice: in Tir8−/−IL-1RI−/−double knockout mice we observed higher survival rates, enhanced bacterial clearance, and reduced levels of local and systemic cytokine and chemokine levels than in Tir8-deficient mice. These results suggest that TIR8 has a nonredundant effect in modulating the inflammation caused byP. aeruginosa, in particular, by negatively regulating IL-1RI signaling, which plays a major role in the pathogenesis of this infectious disease.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 3480-3495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddhartha Biswas ◽  
Gary W. Blissard ◽  
David A. Theilmann

ABSTRACTThe mechanism by which nucleocapsids ofAutographa californicamultiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) egress from the nucleus to the plasma membrane, leading to the formation of budded virus (BV), is not known. AC141 is a nucleocapsid-associated protein required for BV egress and has previously been shown to be associated with β-tubulin. In addition, AC141 and VP39 were previously shown by fluorescence resonance energy transfer by fluorescence lifetime imaging to interact directly with theDrosophila melanogasterkinesin-1 light chain (KLC) tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain. These results suggested that microtubule transport systems may be involved in baculovirus nucleocapsid egress and BV formation. In this study, we investigated the role of lepidopteran microtubule transport using coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization, yeast two-hybrid, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) analyses. We show that nucleocapsid AC141 associates with the lepidopteranTrichoplusia niKLC and kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC) by coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization. Kinesin-1, AC141, and microtubules colocalized predominantly at the plasma membrane. In addition, the nucleocapsid proteins VP39, FP25, and BV/ODV-C42 were also coimmunoprecipitated withT. niKLC. Direct analysis of the role ofT. nikinesin-1 by downregulation of KLC by siRNA resulted in a significant decrease in BV production. Nucleocapsids labeled with VP39 fused with three copies of the mCherry fluorescent protein also colocalized with microtubules. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed no evidence of a direct interaction between kinesin-1 and AC141 or VP39, suggesting that either other nucleocapsid proteins or adaptor proteins may be required. These results further support the conclusion that microtubule transport is required for AcMNPV BV formation.IMPORTANCEIn two key processes of the replication cycle of the baculovirusAutographa californicamultiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), nucleocapsids are transported through the cell. These include (i) entry of budded virus (BV) into the host cell and (ii) egress and budding of nucleocapsids newly produced from the plasma membrane. Prior studies have shown that the entry of nucleocapsids involves the polymerization of actin to propel nucleocapsids to nuclear pores and entry into the nucleus. For the spread of infection, progeny viruses must rapidly exit the infected cells, but the mechanism by which AcMNPV nucleocapsids traverse the cytoplasm is unknown. In this study, we examined whether nucleocapsids interact with lepidopteran kinesin-1 motor molecules and are potentially carried as cargo on microtubules to the plasma membrane in AcMNPV-infected cells. This study indicates that microtubule transport is utilized for the production of budded virus.


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