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.

scholarly journals Phe317 Is Essential for Rubber Oxygenase RoxA Activity

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (22) ◽  
pp. 7876-7883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Birke ◽  
Nadja Hambsch ◽  
Georg Schmitt ◽  
Josef Altenbuchner ◽  
Dieter Jendrossek
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Visible Spectroscopy ◽  
Zone Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cleavage Activity ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Uv Visible ◽  
Spectral Responses

ABSTRACTRoxA is an extracellularc-type diheme cytochrome secreted byXanthomonas sp.strain 35Y during growth on rubber. RoxA cleaves poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) to 12-oxo-4,8-dimethyltrideca-4,8-diene-1-al (ODTD). Analysis of the RoxA structure revealed that Phe317 is located in close proximity (≈5 Å) to the N-terminal heme that presumably represents the active site. To find evidence of whether Phe317 is important for catalysis, we changed it to tyrosine, tryptophan, leucine, histidine, or alanine. All five RoxA muteins were expressed after integration of the respective gene into the chromosome of aXanthomonas sp.ΔroxAstrain. Residual clearing zone formation on opaque latex agar was found forXanthomonas sp.strains expressing the Phe317Leu, Phe317Ala, or Phe317His variant (wild type > Leu > Ala > His). Strains in which Phe317 was changed to tyrosine or tryptophan were inactive. Phe317Ala and Phe312Leu RoxA muteins were purified, and polyisoprene cleavage activities were reduced to ≈3% and 10%, respectively. UV-visible spectroscopy of RoxA muteins confirmed that both heme groups were present in an oxidized form, but spectral responses to the addition of low-molecular-weight (inhibitory) ligand molecules such as imidazole and pyridine were different from those of wild-type RoxA. Our results show that residue 317 is involved in interaction with substrates. This is the first report on structure-function analysis of a polyisoprene-cleaving enzyme and on the identification of an amino acid that is essential for polyisoprene cleavage activity.

scholarly journals G Protein β Subunit–null Mutants Are Impaired in Phagocytosis and Chemotaxis Due to Inappropriate Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton

1998 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 1529-1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Peracino ◽  
Jane Borleis ◽  
Tian Jin ◽  
Monika Westphal ◽  
Jean-Marc Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Fluid Phase ◽  
Β Subunit ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Fluid Phase Endocytosis ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Chemotaxis and phagocytosis are basically similar in cells of the immune system and in Dictyostelium amebae. Deletion of the unique G protein β subunit in D. discoideum impaired phagocytosis but had little effect on fluid-phase endocytosis, cytokinesis, or random motility. Constitutive expression of wild-type β subunit restored phagocytosis and normal development. Chemoattractants released by cells or bacteria trigger typical transient actin polymerization responses in wild-type cells. In β subunit–null cells, and in a series of β subunit point mutants, these responses were impaired to a degree that correlated with the defect in phagocytosis. Image analysis of green fluorescent protein–actin transfected cells showed that β subunit– null cells were defective in reshaping the actin network into a phagocytic cup, and eventually a phagosome, in response to particle attachment. Our results indicate that signaling through heterotrimeric G proteins is required for regulating the actin cytoskeleton during phagocytic uptake, as previously shown for chemotaxis. Inhibitors of phospholipase C and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization inhibited phagocytosis, suggesting the possible involvement of these effectors in the process.

scholarly journals Promotion and Rescue of Intracellular Brucella neotomae Replication during Coinfection with Legionella pneumophila

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon-Suk Kang ◽  
James E. Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Intracellular Replication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Reporter Systems ◽  
Brucella Neotomae

ABSTRACT We established a new Brucella neotomae in vitro model system for study of type IV secretion system-dependent (T4SS) pathogenesis in the Brucella genus. Importantly, B. neotomae is a rodent pathogen, and unlike B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis, B. neotomae has not been observed to infect humans. It therefore can be handled more facilely using biosafety level 2 practices. More particularly, using a series of novel fluorescent protein and lux operon reporter systems to differentially label pathogens and track intracellular replication, we confirmed T4SS-dependent intracellular growth of B. neotomae in macrophage cell lines. Furthermore, B. neotomae exhibited early endosomal (LAMP-1) and late endoplasmic reticulum (calreticulin)-associated phagosome maturation. These findings recapitulate prior observations for human-pathogenic Brucella spp. In addition, during coinfection experiments with Legionella pneumophila, we found that defective intracellular replication of a B. neotomae T4SS virB4 mutant was rescued and baseline levels of intracellular replication of wild-type B. neotomae were significantly stimulated by coinfection with wild-type but not T4SS mutant L. pneumophila. Using confocal microscopy, it was determined that intracellular colocalization of B. neotomae and L. pneumophila was required for rescue and that colocalization came at a cost to L. pneumophila fitness. These findings were not completely expected based on known temporal and qualitative differences in the intracellular life cycles of these two pathogens. Taken together, we have developed a new system for studying in vitro Brucella pathogenesis and found a remarkable T4SS-dependent interplay between Brucella and Legionella during macrophage coinfection.

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 Ras GTPase-Activating Protein Regulation of Actin Cytoskeleton and Hyphal Polarity in Aspergillus nidulans

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Harispe ◽  
Cecilia Portela ◽  
Claudio Scazzocchio ◽  
Miguel A. Peñalva ◽  
Lisette Gorfinkiel
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Source ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Ras Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gtpase Activating Protein ◽  
Ras Gtpase ◽  
Polarity Establishment

ABSTRACT Aspergillus nidulans gapA1, a mutation leading to compact, fluffy colonies and delayed polarity establishment, maps to a gene encoding a Ras GTPase-activating protein. Domain organization and phylogenetic analyses strongly indicate that GapA regulates one or more “true” Ras proteins. A gapAΔ strain is viable. gapA colonies are more compact than gapA1 colonies and show reduced conidiation. gapAΔ strains have abnormal conidiophores, characterized by the absence of one of the two layers of sterigmata seen in the wild type. gapA transcript levels are very low in conidia but increase during germination and reach their maximum at a time coincident with germ tube emergence. Elevated levels persist in hyphae. In germinating conidiospores, gapAΔ disrupts the normal coupling of isotropic growth, polarity establishment, and mitosis, resulting in a highly heterogeneous cell population, including malformed germlings and a class of giant cells with no germ tubes and a multitude of nuclei. Unlike wild-type conidia, gapAΔ conidia germinate without a carbon source. Giant multinucleated spores and carbon source-independent germination have been reported in strains carrying a rasA dominant active allele, indicating that GapA downregulates RasA. gapAΔ cells show a polarity maintenance defect characterized by apical swelling and subapical branching. The strongly polarized wild-type F-actin distribution is lost in gapAΔ cells. As GapA-green fluorescent protein shows cortical localization with strong predominance at the hyphal tips, we propose that GapA-mediated downregulation of Ras signaling at the plasma membrane of these tips is involved in the polarization of the actin cytoskeleton that is required for hyphal growth and, possibly, for asexual morphogenesis.

Rac1 GTPases control filopodia formation, cell motility, endocytosis, cytokinesis and development in Dictyostelium

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 2253-2265 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dumontier ◽  
P. Hocht ◽  
U. Mintert ◽  
J. Faix
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Cell Motility ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Equal Capacity ◽  
Green Fluorescent

The function of the highly homologous Rac1A, Rac1B, and Rac1C GTPases of the Dictyostelium Rac1 group was investigated. All three GTPases bound with an equal capacity to the IQGAP-related protein DGAP1, with a preference for the activated GTP-bound form. Strong overexpression of wild-type Rac1 GTPases N-terminally tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP), predominantly induced the formation of numerous long filopodia. Remarkably, expression of the constitutively-activated GTPases resulted in dominant-negative phenotypes: these Rac1-V12 mutants completely lacked filopodia but formed numerous crown shaped structures resembling macropinosomes. Moreover, these mutants were severely impaired in cell motility, colony growth, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, cytokinesis and development. Transformants expressing constitutively-inactivated Rac1-N17 proteins were similar to wild-type cells, but displayed abundant and short filopodia and exhibited a moderate defect in cytokinesis. Taken together, our results indicate that the three GTPases play an identical role in signaling pathways and are key regulators of cellular activities that depend on the re-organization of the actin cytoskeleton in Dictyostelium.

scholarly journals Two-Component Histidine Phosphotransfer Protein Ypd1 Is Not Essential for Viability in Candida albicans

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mavrianos ◽  
Chirayu Desai ◽  
Neeraj Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Signaling Mechanism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Component

ABSTRACTProkaryotes and lower eukaryotes, such as yeasts, utilize two-component signal transduction pathways to adapt cells to environmental stress and to regulate the expression of genes associated with virulence. One of the central proteins in this type of signaling mechanism is the phosphohistidine intermediate protein Ypd1. Ypd1 is reported to be essential for viability in the model yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. We present data here showing that this is not the case forCandida albicans. Disruption ofYPD1causes cells to flocculate and filament constitutively under conditions that favor growth in yeast form. To determine the function of Ypd1 in the Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, we measured phosphorylation of Hog1 MAPK inypd1Δ/Δ and wild-type strains ofC. albicans. Constitutive phosphorylation of Hog1 was observed in theypd1Δ/Δ strain compared to the wild-type strain. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy revealed that green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Ypd1 is localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The subcellular segregation of GFP-tagged Ypd1 hints at an important role(s) of Ypd1 in regulation of Ssk1 (cytosolic) and Skn7 (nuclear) response regulator proteins via phosphorylation inC. albicans. Overall, our findings have profound implications for a mechanistic understanding of two-component signaling pathways inC. albicans, and perhaps in other pathogenic fungi.

Cofilin mediates ATP depletion-induced endothelial cell actin alterations

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. F1398-F1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria V. Suurna ◽  
Sharon L. Ashworth ◽  
Melanie Hosford ◽  
Ruben M. Sandoval ◽  
Sarah E. Wean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Fluorescent Imaging ◽  
Atp Depletion ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Lim Kinase ◽  
Actin Stress Fibers

Ischemia and sepsis lead to endothelial cell damage, resulting in compromised microvascular flow in many organs. Much remains to be determined regarding the intracellular structural events that lead to endothelial cell dysfunction. To investigate potential actin cytoskeletal-related mechanisms, ATP depletion was induced in mouse pancreatic microvascular endothelial cells (MS1). Fluorescent imaging and biochemical studies demonstrated a rapid and progressive increase in F-actin along with a decrease in G-actin at 60 min. Confocal microscopic analysis showed ATP depletion resulted in destruction of actin stress fibers and accumulation of F-actin aggregates. We hypothesized these actin alterations were secondary to dephosphorylation/activation of actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin proteins. Cofilin, the predominant isoform expressed in MS1 cells, was rapidly dephosphorylated/activated during ATP depletion. To directly investigate the role of cofilin activation on the actin cytoskeleton during ischemia, MS1 cells were infected with adenoviruses containing the cDNAs for wild-type Xenopus laevis ADF/cofilin green fluorescent protein [XAC(wt)-GFP], GFP, and the constitutively active and inactive isoforms XAC(S3A)-GFP and XAC(S3E)-GFP. The rate and extent of cortical actin destruction and actin aggregate formation were increased in ATP-depleted XAC(wt)-GFP- and XAC(S3A)-GFP-expressing cells, whereas increased actin stress fibers were observed in XAC(S3E)-GFP-expressing cells. To investigate the upstream signaling pathway of ADF/cofilin, LIM kinase 1-GFP (LIMK1-GFP) was expressed in MS1 cells. Cells expressing LIMK1-GFP protein had higher levels of phosphorylated ADF/cofilin, increased stress fibers, and delayed F-actin cytoskeleton destruction during ATP depletion. These results strongly support the importance of cofilin regulation in ischemia-induced endothelial cell actin cytoskeleton alterations leading to cell damage and microvascular dysfunction.

scholarly journals BED1, a gene encoding a galactosyltransferase homologue, is required for polarized growth and efficient bud emergence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1996 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Mondésert ◽  
S I Reed
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Polarized Growth ◽  
Checkpoint Control ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Ellipsoidal Shape ◽  
Bud Emergence ◽  
Morphogenesis Checkpoint

The ellipsoidal shape of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the result of successive isotropic/apical growth switches that are regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner. It is thought that growth polarity is governed by the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton that is itself under the control of the cell cycle machinery. The cell cycle and the morphogenesis cycle are tightly coupled and it has been recently suggested that a morphogenesis/polarity checkpoint control monitors bud emergence in order to maintain the coupling of these two events (Lew, D. J., and S. I. Reed. 1995. J. Cell Biol. 129:739-749). During a screen based on the inability of cells impaired in the budding process to survive when the morphogenesis checkpoint control is abolished, we identified and characterized BED1, a new gene that is required for efficient budding. Cells carrying a disrupted allele of BED1 no longer have the wild-type ellipsoidal shape characteristic of S. cerevisiae, are larger than wild-type cells, are deficient in bud emergence, and depend upon an intact morphogenesis checkpoint control to survive. These cells show defects in polarized growth despite the fact that the actin cytoskeleton appears normal. Our results suggest that Bed1 is a type II membrane protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. BED1 is significantly homologous to gma12+, a S. pombe gene coding for an alpha-1,2,-galactosyltransferase, suggesting that glycosylation of specific proteins or lipids could be important for signaling in the switch to polarized growth and in bud emergence.

scholarly journals Structural and Regulatory Changes in PBP4 Trigger Decreased β-Lactam Susceptibility inEnterococcus faecalis

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis B. Rice ◽  
Charlene Desbonnet ◽  
Amelia Tait-Kamradt ◽  
Monica Garcia-Solache ◽  
John Lonks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Joint Infection ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Promoter Sequence ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalisstrains resistant to penicillin and ampicillin are rare and have been associated with increases in quantities of low-affinity penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4) or with amino acid substitutions in PBP4. We report anE. faecalisstrain (LS4828) isolated from a prosthetic knee joint that was subjected to long-term exposure to aminopenicillins. Subsequent cultures yieldedE. faecaliswith MICs of penicillins and carbapenems higher than those for wild-type strainE. faecalisJH2-2. Sequence analysis of thepbp4gene of LS4828 compared to that of JH2-2 revealed two point mutations with amino acid substitutions (V223I, A617T) and deletion of an adenine from the region upstream of the predictedpbp4−35 promoter sequence (UP region). Purified PBP4 from LS4828 exhibited less affinity for Bocillin FL than did PBP4 from JH2-2, which was recapitulated by purified PBP4 containing only the A617T mutation. Differential scanning fluorimetry studies showed that the LS4828 and A617T variants are destabilized compared to wild-type PBP4. Further, reverse transcription-PCR indicated increased transcription ofpbp4in LS4828 and Western blot analysis with polyclonal PBP4 antibody revealed greater quantities of PBP4 in LS4828 than in JH2-2 lysates and membrane preparations. Placing the promoter regions from LS4828 or JH2-2 upstream of a green fluorescent protein reporter gene confirmed that the adenine deletion was associated with increased transcription. Together, these data suggest that the reduced susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics observed inE. faecalisLS4828 results from a combination of both increased expression and remodeling of the active site, resulting in reduced affinity for penicillins and carbapenems.IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecalisis an important cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections and creates therapeutic dilemmas because of its frequent resistance to several classes of antibiotics. We report anE. faecalisstrain with decreased ampicillin and imipenem susceptibility isolated after prolonged courses of aminopenicillin therapy for a prosthetic joint infection. Its reduced susceptibility is attributable to a combination of increased quantities of low-affinity PBP4 and an amino acid substitution in proximity to the active site that destabilizes the protein. Our findings provide a cautionary tale for clinicians who elect to “suppress” infections in prosthetic joints and offer novel insights into the interaction of β-lactam antibiotics with low-affinity PBP4. These insights will help inform future efforts to develop therapeutics capable of inhibiting clinical enterococcal strains.

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