scholarly journals The High-Osmolarity Glycerol Response Pathway in the Human Fungal Pathogen Candida glabrata Strain ATCC 2001 Lacks a Signaling Branch That Operates in Baker's Yeast

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 1635-1645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa Gregori ◽  
Christoph Schüller ◽  
Andreas Roetzer ◽  
Tobias Schwarzmüller ◽  
Gustav Ammerer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway mediates adaptation to high-osmolarity stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we investigate the function of HOG in the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata. C. glabrata sho1Δ (Cgsho1Δ) deletion strains from the sequenced ATCC 2001 strain display severe growth defects under hyperosmotic conditions, a phenotype not observed for yeast sho1Δ mutants. However, deletion of CgSHO1 in other genetic backgrounds fails to cause osmostress hypersensitivity, whereas cells lacking the downstream MAP kinase Pbs2 remain osmosensitive. Notably, ATCC 2001 Cgsho1Δ cells also display methylglyoxal hypersensitivity, implying the inactivity of the Sln1 branch in ATCC 2001. Genomic sequencing of CgSSK2 in different C. glabrata backgrounds demonstrates that ATCC 2001 harbors a truncated and mutated Cgssk2-1 allele, the only orthologue of yeast SSK2/SSK22 genes. Thus, the osmophenotype of ATCC 2001 is caused by a point mutation in Cgssk2-1, which debilitates the second HOG pathway branch. Functional complementation experiments unequivocally demonstrate that HOG signaling in yeast and C. glabrata share similar functions in osmostress adaptation. In contrast to yeast, however, Cgsho1Δ mutants display hypersensitivity to weak organic acids such as sorbate and benzoate. Hence, CgSho1 is also implicated in modulating weak acid tolerance, suggesting that HOG signaling in C. glabrata mediates the response to multiple stress conditions.

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Eisman ◽  
R. Alonso-Monge ◽  
E. Román ◽  
D. Arana ◽  
C. Nombela ◽  
...  

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeljkica Jandric ◽  
Christa Gregori ◽  
Eva Klopf ◽  
Martin Radolf ◽  
Christoph Schüller

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuyoshi Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuo Tatebayashi ◽  
Haruo Saito

To adapt to environmental high osmolarity, the budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeactivates the Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which regulates diverse osmoadaptive responses. Hog1 is activated through the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, which consists of independent upstream signaling routes termed the SLN1 branch and the SHO1 branch. Here, we report that the extracellular cysteine-rich (CR) domain of the transmembrane-anchor protein Opy2 binds to the Hkr1-Msb2 homology (HMH) domain of the putative osmosensor Msb2 and that formation of the Opy2-Msb2 complex is essential for osmotic activation of Hog1 through the MSB2 subbranch of the SHO1 branch. By analyzing the phenotypes of mutants with Opy2 cysteine-to-alanine mutations, we deduced that the CR domain forms four intramolecular disulfide bonds. To probe for the potential induction of conformational changes in the Opy2-Msb2 complex by osmostress, we constructed mutants with a site-specific Cys-to-Ala mutation of the Opy2 CR domain and mutants with a Cys substitution of the Msb2 HMH domain. Each of these mutants had a reduced cysteine. These mutants were then combinatorially cross-linked using chemical cross-linkers of different lengths. Cross-linking between Opy2 Cys48 and Msb2 Cys1023 was sensitive to osmotic changes, suggesting that osmostress induced a conformational change. We therefore propose that the Opy2-Msb2 complex might serve as an osmosensor.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricija Hawle ◽  
Danielle Horst ◽  
Jan Paul Bebelman ◽  
Xiao Xian Yang ◽  
Marco Siderius ◽  
...  

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.


mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Pereira Silva ◽  
Dean Frawley ◽  
Leandro José de Assis ◽  
Ciara Tierney ◽  
Alastair B. Fleming ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) response pathway is a multifunctional signal transduction pathway that specifically transmits ambient osmotic signals. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hog1p has two upstream signaling branches, the sensor histidine kinase Sln1p and the receptor Sho1p. The Sho1p branch includes two other proteins, the Msb2p mucin and Opy2p. Aspergillus fumigatus is the leading cause of pulmonary fungal diseases. Here, we investigated the roles played by A. fumigatus SlnASln1p, ShoASho1p, MsbAMsb2p, and OpyAOpy2p putative homologues during the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) HOG pathway. The shoA, msbA, and opyA singly and doubly null mutants are important for the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway, oxidative stress, and virulence as assessed by a Galleria mellonella model. Genetic interactions of ShoA, MsbA, and OpyA are also important for proper activation of the SakAHog1p and MpkASlt2 cascade and the response to osmotic and cell wall stresses. Comparative label-free quantitative proteomics analysis of the singly null mutants with the wild-type strain upon caspofungin exposure indicates that the absence of ShoA, MsbA, and OpyA affects the osmotic stress response, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein degradation. The putative receptor mutants showed altered trehalose and glycogen accumulation, suggesting a role for ShoA, MsbA, and OpyA in sugar storage. Protein kinase A activity was also decreased in these mutants. We also observed genetic interactions between SlnA, ShoA, MsbA, and OpyA, suggesting that both branches are important for activation of the HOG/CWI pathways. Our results help in the understanding of the activation and modulation of the HOG and CWI pathways in this important fungal pathogen. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is an important human-pathogenic fungal species that is responsible for a high incidence of infections in immunocompromised individuals. A. fumigatus high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) and cell wall integrity pathways are important for the adaptation to different forms of environmental adversity such as osmotic and oxidative stresses, nutrient limitations, high temperatures, and other chemical and mechanical stresses that may be produced by the host immune system and antifungal drugs. Little is known about how these pathways are activated in this fungal pathogen. Here, we characterize four A. fumigatus putative homologues that are important for the activation of the yeast HOG pathway. A. fumigatus SlnASln1p, ShoASho1p, MsbAMsb2p, and OpyAOpy2p are genetically interacting and are essential for the activation of the HOG and cell wall integrity pathways. Our results contribute to the understanding of A. fumigatus adaptation to the host environment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 10611-10627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvira Román ◽  
César Nombela ◽  
Jesús Pla

ABSTRACT The Sho1 adaptor protein is an important element of one of the two upstream branches of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a signal transduction cascade involved in adaptation to stress. In the present work, we describe its role in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans by the construction of mutants altered in this gene. We report here that sho1 mutants are sensitive to oxidative stress but that Sho1 has a minor role in the transmission of the phosphorylation signal to the Hog1 MAP kinase in response to oxidative stress, which mainly occurs through a putative Sln1-Ssk1 branch of the HOG pathway. Genetic analysis revealed that double ssk1 sho1 mutants were still able to grow on high-osmolarity media and activate Hog1 in response to this stress, indicating the existence of alternative inputs of the pathway. We also demonstrate that the Cek1 MAP kinase is constitutively active in hog1 and ssk1 mutants, a phenotypic trait that correlates with their resistance to the cell wall inhibitor Congo red, and that Sho1 is essential for the activation of the Cek1 MAP kinase under different conditions that require active cell growth and/or cell wall remodeling, such as the resumption of growth upon exit from the stationary phase. sho1 mutants are also sensitive to certain cell wall interfering compounds (Congo red, calcofluor white), presenting an altered cell wall structure (as shown by the ability to aggregate), and are defective in morphogenesis on different media, such as SLAD and Spider, that stimulate hyphal growth. These results reveal a role for the Sho1 protein in linking oxidative stress, cell wall biogenesis, and morphogenesis in this important human fungal pathogen.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5788-5796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Posas ◽  
Elizabeth A. Witten ◽  
Haruo Saito

ABSTRACT Exposure of yeast cells to increases in extracellular osmolarity activates the HOG1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade, which is composed of three tiers of protein kinases: (i) the SSK2, SSK22, and STE11 MAP kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKKs), (ii) the PBS2 MAPKK, and (iii) the HOG1 MAP kinase. Activation of the MAP kinase cascade is mediated by two upstream mechanisms. The SLN1-YPD1-SSK1 two-component osmosensor activates the SSK2 and SSK22 MAPKKKs by direct interaction of the SSK1 response regulator with these MAPKKKs. The second mechanism of HOG1 MAP kinase activation is independent of the two-component osmosensor and involves the SHO1 transmembrane protein and the STE11 MAPKKK. Only PBS2 and HOG1 are common to the two mechanisms. We conducted an exhaustive mutant screening to identify additional elements required for activation of STE11 by osmotic stress. We found that strains with mutations in the STE50 gene, in combination with ssk2Δ ssk22Δ mutations, were unable to induce HOG1 phosphorylation after osmotic stress. Both two-hybrid analyses and coprecipitation assays demonstrated that the N-terminal domain of STE50 binds strongly to the N-terminal domain of STE11. The binding of STE50 to STE11 is constitutive and is not affected by osmotic stress. Furthermore, the two proteins relocalize similarly after osmotic shock. It was concluded that STE50 fulfills an essential role in the activation of the high-osmolarity glycerol response pathway by acting as an integral subunit of the STE11 MAPKKK.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (18) ◽  
pp. 6662-6671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoto Sato ◽  
Hiroyuki Kawahara ◽  
Akio Toh-e ◽  
Tatsuya Maeda

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a phosphorelay signal transduction pathway composed of Sln1p, Ypd1p, and Ssk1p, which are homologous to bacterial two-component signal transducers, is involved in the osmosensing mechanism. In response to high osmolarity, the phosphorelay system is inactivated and Ssk1p remains unphosphorylated. Unphosphorylated Ssk1p binds to and activates the Ssk2p mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase, which in turn activates the downstream components of the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) MAP kinase cascade. Here, we report a novel inactivation mechanism for Ssk1p involving degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Degradation is regulated by the phosphotransfer from Ypd1p to Ssk1p, insofar as unphosphorylated Ssk1p is degraded more rapidly than phosphorylated Ssk1p. Ubc7p/Qri8p, an endoplasmic reticulum-associated ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, is involved in the phosphorelay-regulated degradation of Ssk1p. In ubc7Δ cells in which the degradation is hampered, the dephosphorylation and/or inactivation process of the Hog1p MAP kinase is delayed compared with wild-type cells after the hyperosmotic treatment. Our results indicate that unphosphorylated Ssk1p is selectively degraded by the Ubc7p-dependent ubiquitin-proteasome system and that this mechanism downregulates the HOG pathway after the completion of the osmotic adaptation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Argimón ◽  
Saranna Fanning ◽  
Jill R. Blankenship ◽  
Aaron P. Mitchell

ABSTRACT Human β-defensins 2 and 3 are small cationic peptides with antimicrobial activity against the fungal pathogen Candida albicans . We found that hog1 and pbs2 mutants were hypersensitive to treatment with these peptides, pointing to a role of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway in the response to defensin-induced cell injury.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 4135-4144
Author(s):  
J Albertyn ◽  
S Hohmann ◽  
J M Thevelein ◽  
B A Prior

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to osmotic stress, i.e., an increase in osmolarity of the growth medium, by enhanced production and intracellular accumulation of glycerol as a compatible solute. We have cloned a gene encoding the key enzyme of glycerol synthesis, the NADH-dependent cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and we named it GPD1. gpd1 delta mutants produced very little glycerol, and they were sensitive to osmotic stress. Thus, glycerol production is indeed essential for the growth of yeast cells during reduced water availability. hog1 delta mutants lacking a protein kinase involved in osmostress-induced signal transduction (the high-osmolarity glycerol response [HOG] pathway) failed to increase glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and mRNA levels when osmotic stress was imposed. Thus, expression of GPD1 is regulated through the HOG pathway. However, there may be Hog1-independent mechanisms mediating osmostress-induced glycerol accumulation, since a hog1 delta strain could still enhance its glycerol content, although less than the wild type. hog1 delta mutants are more sensitive to osmotic stress than isogenic gpd1 delta strains, and gpd1 delta hog1 delta double mutants are even more sensitive than either single mutant. Thus, the HOG pathway most probably has additional targets in the mechanism of adaptation to hypertonic medium.


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