scholarly journals Aspergillus fumigatus G-Protein Coupled Receptors GprM and GprJ Are Important for the Regulation of the Cell Wall Integrity Pathway, Secondary Metabolite Production, and Virulence

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aílton Pereira da Costa Filho ◽  
Guilherme Thomaz Pereira Brancini ◽  
Patrícia Alves de Castro ◽  
Clara Valero ◽  
Jaire Alves Ferreira Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Fungal Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity Pathway ◽  
Mycotoxin Biosynthesis ◽  
G Protein Coupled

ABSTRACT G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are extracellular signaling receptors that sense environmental cues. Fungi sense their environment primarily through GPCR-mediated signaling pathways, which, in turn, regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. Aspergillus fumigatus is an important human pathogen that causes aspergillosis, a heterogeneous group of diseases that present a wide range of clinical manifestations. Here, we investigate in detail the role of the GPCRs GprM and GprJ in growth and gene expression. GprM and GprJ are important for melanin production and the regulation of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. Overexpression of gprM and gprJ causes a 20 and 50% reduction in growth rate compared to the wild-type (WT) strain and increases sensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents. Phosphorylation of the CWI protein kinase MpkA is increased in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains and decreased in the overexpression mutants compared to the WT strain. Furthermore, differences in cell wall polysaccharide concentrations and organization were observed in these strains. Transcriptome sequencing suggests that GprM and GprJ negatively regulate genes encoding secondary metabolites (SMs). Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the production of fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, and fumitremorgin is reduced in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains, at least partially through the activation of MpkA. Overexpression of grpM also resulted in the regulation of many transcription factors, with AsgA predicted to function downstream of GprM and MpkA signaling. Finally, we show that the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ mutants are reduced in virulence in the Galleria mellonella insect model of invasive aspergillosis. IMPORTANCE A. fumigatus is the main etiological agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a life-threatening fungal disease that occurs in severely immunocompromised humans. Withstanding the host environment is essential for A. fumigatus virulence, and sensing of extracellular cues occurs primarily through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate signal transduction pathways, which, in turn, regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The A. fumigatus genome encodes 15 putative classical GPCRs, with only three having been functionally characterized to date. In this work, we show that the two GPCRs GprM and GprJ regulate the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase MpkA and thus control the regulation of the cell wall integrity pathway. GprM and GprJ are also involved in the regulation of the production of the secondary metabolites fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, melanin, and fumitremorgin, and this regulation partially occurs through the activation of MpkA. Furthermore, GprM and GprJ are important for virulence in the insect model Galleria mellonella. This work therefore functionally characterizes two GPCRs and shows how they regulate several intracellular pathways that have been shown to be crucial for A. fumigatus virulence.

scholarly journals Aspergillus fumigatus G-protein coupled receptors GprM and GprJ are important for the regulation of the cell wall integrity pathway, secondary metabolite production, and virulence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aílton Pereira da Costa Filho ◽  
Guilherme Thomaz Pereira Brancini ◽  
Patrícia Alves de Castro ◽  
Jaire Alves Ferreira ◽  
Lilian Pereira Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Fungal Development ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity Pathway ◽  
Mycotoxin Biosynthesis ◽  
G Protein Coupled

AbstractG-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are extracellular signalling receptors that sense environmental cues to coordinate a biological response. Fungi sense their environment primarily through GPCR-mediated signalling pathways, which in turn regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis. A. fumigatus is an important human pathogen that causes aspergillosis, a heterogeneous group of diseases that presents a wide range of clinical manifestations. Here, we investigate in detail the role of the GPCRs GprM and GprJ in growth and gene expression. GprM and GprJ are important for melanin production and the regulation of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. Overexpression of gprM and gprJ causes a 20 and 50% reduction in growth rate when compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, and increases sensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents. Phosphorylation of the CWI protein kinase MpkA is increased in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains and decreased in the overexpression mutants when compared to the WT strain. Furthermore, differences in cell wall polysaccharide concentrations and organization were observed in these strains. RNA-sequencing suggests that GprM and GprJ negatively regulate genes encoding secondary metabolites (SMs). Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the production of fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, and fumitremorgin is reduced in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains, and that this regulation occurs, at least partially, through the activation of MpkA. Overexpression of grpM also resulted in the regulation of many transcription factors, with AsgA predicted to function downstream of GprM and MpkA signalling. Finally, we show that the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ mutants are reduced in virulence in the Galleria mellonella insect model of invasive aspergillosis. This work further contributes to unravelling functions of A. fumigatus GPCRs and shows that GprM and GprJ are essential for CWI, secondary metabolite production and virulence.Author summaryA. fumigatus is the main ethiological agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a life-threatening fungal disease that occurs in severely immuno-compromised humans. Withstanding the host environment is essential for A. fumigatus virulence and sensing of extracellular cues occurs primarily through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate signal transduction pathways, which in turn regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The A. fumigatus genome encodes 15 putative classical GPCRs, with only three having been functionally characterized to date. In this work, we show that the two GPCRs GprM and GprJ regulate the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase MpkA and thus control the regulation of the cell wall integrity pathway. GprM and GprJ are also involved in the regulation of the production of the secondary metabolites fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, melanin, and fumitremorgin and this regulation partially occurs through the activation of MpkA. Furthermore, GprM and GprJ are important for virulence in the insect model Galleria mellonella. This work therefore functionally characterizes two GPCRs and shows how they regulate several intracellular pathways that have been shown to be crucial for A. fumigatus virulence.

scholarly journals Global Survey of Canonical Aspergillus flavus G Protein-Coupled Receptors

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharyn J. Affeldt ◽  
Joseph Carrig ◽  
Meareg Amare ◽  
Nancy P. Keller
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
G Protein Coupled

ABSTRACTG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are transmembrane receptors that relay signals from the external environment inside the cell, allowing an organism to adapt to its surroundings. They are known to detect a vast array of ligands, including sugars, amino acids, pheromone peptides, nitrogen sources, oxylipins, and light. Despite their prevalence in fungal genomes, very little is known about the functions of filamentous fungal GPCRs. Here we present the first full-genome assessment of fungal GPCRs through characterization of null mutants of all 15 GPCRs encoded by the aflatoxin-producing fungusAspergillus flavus. All strains were assessed for growth, development, ability to produce aflatoxin, and response to carbon sources, nitrogen sources, stress agents, and lipids. Most GPCR mutants were aberrant in one or more response processes, possibly indicative of cross talk in downstream signaling pathways. Interestingly, the biological defects of the mutants did not correspond with assignment to established GPCR classes; this is likely due to the paucity of data for characterized fungal GPCRs. Many of the GPCR transcripts were differentially regulated under various conditions as well. The data presented here provide an extensive overview of the full set of GPCRs encoded byA. flavusand provide a framework for analysis in other fungal species.IMPORTANCEAspergillus flavusis an opportunistic pathogen of crops and animals, including humans, and it produces a carcinogenic toxin called aflatoxin. Because of this,A. flavusaccounts for food shortages and economic losses in addition to sickness and death. Effective means of combating this pathogen are needed to mitigate its deleterious effects. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are often used as therapeutic targets due to their signal specificity, and it is estimated that half of all drugs target GPCRs. In fungi such asA. flavus, GPCRs are likely necessary for sensing the changes in the environment, including food sources, developmental signals, stress agents, and signals from other organisms. Therefore, elucidating their functions inA. flavuscould identify ideal receptors against which to develop antagonists.

scholarly journals Identification of a Conserved, Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor Required for Efficient Pathogen Clearance in Caenorhabditis elegans

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Anderson ◽  
Yee Lian Chew ◽  
William Schafer ◽  
Rachel McMullan
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Pathogen Clearance ◽  
G Protein Coupled

ABSTRACT G protein-coupled receptors contribute to host defense across the animal kingdom, transducing many signals involved in both vertebrate and invertebrate immune responses. While it has become well established that the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans triggers innate immune responses following infection with numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, the mechanisms by which C. elegans recognizes these pathogens have remained somewhat more elusive. C. elegans G protein-coupled receptors have been implicated in recognizing pathogen-associated damage and activating downstream host immune responses. Here we identify and characterize a novel G protein-coupled receptor required to regulate the C. elegans response to infection with Microbacterium nematophilum. We show that this receptor, which we designate pathogen clearance-defective receptor 1 (PCDR-1), is required for efficient pathogen clearance following infection. PCDR-1 acts upstream of multiple G proteins, including the C. elegans Gαq ortholog, EGL-30, in rectal epithelial cells to promote pathogen clearance via a novel mechanism.

scholarly journals G-protein subunit Gai in mitochondria, MrGPA1, affects conidiation, stress resistance, and virulence of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youmin Tong ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
Zhenbang Liu ◽  
Zhangxun Wang ◽  
bo huang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Stress Resistance ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Metarhizium Robertsii

Abstract G proteins are critical modulators or transducers in various transmembrane signaling systems. They play key roles in numerous biological processes in fungi, including vegetative growth, development of infection-related structures, asexual sporulation, and virulence. However, their function in entomopathogenic fungi remains unclear. Here, we characterized the roles of MrGPA1, a G-protein subunit Gα i , in conidiation, stress resistance, and virulence in Metarhizium robertsii . MrGPA1 was localized in the mitochondria. MrGpa1 deletion resulted in a significant reduction (47%) in the conidiation capacity, and reduced expression of several key conidiation-related genes, including fluG , flbD , brlA , wetA , phiA , and stuA . Further, MrGpa1 disruption resulted in decreased fungal sensitivity to UV irradiation and thermal stress, as determined based on conidial germination of ∆MrGpa1 and wild-type strains. Chemical stress analysis indicated that MrGpa1 contributes to fungal antioxidant capacity and cell wall integrity, but is not involved in antifungal ability and osmotic stress. Importantly, insect bioassays involving (topical inoculation and injection) of Galleria mellonella larvae revealed decreased virulence of ∆MrGpa1 strain after cuticle infection. This was accompanied by decreased rates of appressorium formation and reduced expression of several cuticle penetration-related genes. These observations suggest that MrGpa1 contributes to the regulation of conidiation, UV irradiation, thermal stress response, antioxidant capacity and cell wall integrity in M. robertsii . This gene is also involved in insect cuticle penetration during infection. These findings raise the possibility of designing powerful strategies for genetic improvement of M. robertsii conidiation capacity and virulence for killing pests.

scholarly journals Interface of Candida albicans Biofilm Matrix-Associated Drug Resistance and Cell Wall Integrity Regulation

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1660-1669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeniel E. Nett ◽  
Hiram Sanchez ◽  
Michael T. Cain ◽  
Kelly M. Ross ◽  
David R. Andes
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Candidate Gene Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistant Phenotype ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity Pathway ◽  
Biofilm Matrix

ABSTRACTCandida albicansfrequently infects medical devices by growing as a biofilm, i.e., a community of adherent organisms entrenched in an extracellular matrix. During biofilm growth,Candidaspp. acquire the ability to resist high concentrations of antifungal drugs. One recently recognized biofilm resistance mechanism involves drug sequestration by matrix β-1,3 glucan. Using a candidate gene approach, we investigated potentialC. albicansβ-1,3-glucan regulators, based on their homology toSaccharomyces cerevisiae, includingSMI1and protein kinase C (PKC) pathway components. We identified a role for theSMI1in biofilm matrix glucan production and development of the associated drug resistance phenotype. This pathway appears to act through transcription factor Rlmp and glucan synthase Fks1p. The phenotypes of these mutant biofilms mimicked those of thesmi1Δ/smi1Δ biofilm, and overexpression ofFKS1in thesmi1Δ/smi1Δ mutant restored the biofilm resistant phenotype. However, control of this pathway is distinct from that of the upstream PKC pathway because thepkc1Δ/pkc1Δ,bck1Δ/bck1Δ,mkk2Δ/mkk2Δ, andmkc1Δ/mkc1Δ biofilms retained the resistant phenotype of the parent strain. In addition, resistance to cell-perturbing agents and gene expression data do not support a significant role for the cell wall integrity pathway during the biofilm formation. Here we show that Smi1p functions in conjunction with Rlm1p and Fks1p to produce drug-sequestering biofilm β-glucan. Our work provides new insight into how theC. albicansbiofilm matrix production and drug resistance pathways intersect with the planktonic cell wall integrity pathway. This novel connection helps explain how pathogens in a multicellular biofilm community are protected from anti-infective therapy.

scholarly journals Cell Wall Trapping of Autocrine Peptides for Human G-Protein-Coupled Receptors on the Yeast Cell Surface

PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. e37136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Ishii ◽  
Nobuo Yoshimoto ◽  
Kenji Tatematsu ◽  
Shun’ichi Kuroda ◽  
Chiaki Ogino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Yeast Cell ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Yeast Cell Surface ◽  
G Protein Coupled

scholarly journals A G protein-coupled receptor-like module regulates Cellulose Synthase secretion from the endomembrane system in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather E. McFarlane ◽  
Daniela Mutwil-Anderwald ◽  
Jana Verbančič ◽  
Kelsey L. Picard ◽  
Timothy E. Gookin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Golgi Apparatus ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Protein Complex ◽  
Cellulose Synthase ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Cellulose Synthesis ◽  
Endomembrane System ◽  
G Protein Coupled

AbstractCellulose synthesis is essential for plant morphology, water transport and defense, and provides raw material for biomaterials and fuels. Cellulose is produced at the plasma membrane by Cellulose Synthase (CESA) protein complexes (CSCs). CSCs are assembled in the endomembrane system and then trafficked from the Golgi apparatus and trans-Golgi Network (TGN) to the plasma membrane. Since CESA enzymes are only active in the plasma membrane, control of CSC secretion is a critical step in the regulation of cellulose synthesis. However, the regulatory framework for CSC secretion is not clarified. In this study, we identify members of a family of seven transmembrane domain-containing proteins (7TMs) as important for cellulose production during cell wall integrity stress. 7TM proteins are often associated with guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G) protein signalling and mutants in several of the canonical G protein complex components phenocopied the 7tm mutant plants. Unexpectedly, the 7TM proteins localized to the Golgi apparatus/TGN where they interacted with the G protein complex. Here, the 7TMs and G proteins regulated CESA trafficking, but did not affect general protein secretion. Furthermore, during cell wall stress, 7TMs’ localization was biased towards small CESA-containing vesicles, specifically associated with CSC trafficking. Our results thus outline how a G protein-coupled module regulates CESA trafficking and reveal that defects in this process lead to exacerbated responses upon exposure to cell wall integrity stress.

scholarly journals The Cell Wall Integrity Pathway Contributes to the Early Stages of Aspergillus fumigatus Asexual Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Campos Rocha ◽  
João Henrique Tadini Marilhano Fabri ◽  
Isabelle Taira Simões ◽  
Rafael Silva-Rocha ◽  
Daisuke Hagiwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Asexual Development ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Susceptible Host ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity Pathway ◽  
Cell Wall Remodeling

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is a major cause of human disease. The survival of this fungus is dependent on the cell wall organization and function of its components. The cell wall integrity pathway (CWIP) is the primary signaling cascade that controls de novo synthesis of the cell wall in fungi. Abundant conidiation is a hallmark in A. fumigatus, and uptake of conidia by a susceptible host is usually the initial event in infection. The formation of conidia is mediated by the development of fungus-specific specialized structures, conidiophores, which are accompanied by cell wall remodeling. The molecular regulation of these changes in cell wall composition required for the rise of conidiophore from the solid surface and to disperse the conidia into the air is currently unknown. Here, we investigated the role of CWIP in conidiation. We show that CWIP pkcAG579R, ΔmpkA, and ΔrlmA mutants displayed reduced conidiation during synchronized asexual differentiation. The transcription factor RlmA directly regulated the expression of regulators of conidiation, including flbB, flbC, brlA, abaA, and rasB, as well as genes involved in cell wall synthesis and remodeling, and this affected the chitin content in aerial hyphae. Phosphorylation of RlmA and MpkA was increased during asexual differentiation. We also observed that MpkA physically associated with the proteins FlbB, FlbC, BrlA, and RasB during this process, suggesting another level of cross talk between the CWIP and asexual development pathways. In summary, our results support the conclusion that one function of the CWIP is the regulation of asexual development in filamentous fungi. IMPORTANCE A remarkable feature of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is its ability to produce impressive amounts of infectious propagules known as conidia. These particles reach immunocompromised patients and may initiate a life-threatening mycosis. The conidiation process in Aspergillus is governed by a sequence of proteins that coordinate the development of conidiophores. This process requires the remodeling of the cell wall so that the conidiophores can rise and withstand the chains of conidia. The events regulating cell wall remodeling during conidiation are currently unknown. Here, we show that the cell wall integrity pathway (CWIP) components RlmA and MpkA directly contribute to the activation of the conidiation cascade by enabling transcription or phosphorylation of critical proteins involved in asexual development. This study points to an essential role for the CWIP during conidiation and provides further insights into the complex regulation of asexual development in filamentous fungi.

scholarly journals GPR11, a Putative Seven-Transmembrane G Protein-Coupled Receptor, Controls Zoospore Development and Virulence of Phytophthora sojae

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonglin Wang ◽  
Aining Li ◽  
Xiaoli Wang ◽  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Wei Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Phytophthora Sojae ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Signaling Mechanisms ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Two Hybrid ◽  
Receptor Family

ABSTRACT G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a large receptor family involved in a broad spectrum of cell signaling. To understand signaling mechanisms mediated by GPCRs in Phytophthora sojae, we identified and characterized the PsGPR11 gene, which encodes a putative seven-transmembrane GPCR. An expression analysis revealed that PsGPR11 was differentially expressed during asexual development. The highest expression level occurred in zoospores and was upregulated during early infection. PsGPR11-deficienct transformants were obtained by gene silencing strategies. Silenced transformants exhibited no differences in hyphal growth or morphology, sporangium production or size, or mating behavior. However, the release of zoospores from sporangia was severely impaired in the silenced transformants, and about 50% of the sporangia did not completely release their zoospores. Zoospore encystment and germination were also impaired, and zoospores of the transformants lost their pathogenicity to soybean. In addition, no interaction was observed between PsGPR11 and PsGPA1 with a conventional yeast two-hybrid assay, and the transcriptional levels of some genes which were identified as being negatively regulated by PsGPA1 were not clearly altered in PsGPR11-silenced mutants. These results suggest that PsGPR11-mediated signaling controls P. sojae zoospore development and virulence through the pathways independent of G protein.

scholarly journals Highly Dynamic and Specific Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate, Septin, and Cell Wall Integrity Pathway Responses Correlate with Caspofungin Activity against Candida albicans

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 3591-3600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Badrane ◽  
M. Hong Nguyen ◽  
Cornelius J. Clancy
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Ph Domain ◽  
Calcofluor White ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity Pathway ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] activates the yeast cell wall integrity pathway.Candida albicansexposure to caspofungin results in the rapid redistribution of PI(4,5)P2and septins to plasma membrane foci and subsequent fungicidal effects. We studiedC. albicansPI(4,5)P2and septin dynamics and protein kinase C (PKC)-Mkc1 cell wall integrity pathway activation following exposure to caspofungin and other drugs. PI(4,5)P2and septins were visualized by live imaging ofC. albicanscells coexpressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and red fluorescent protein-Cdc10p, respectively. PI(4,5)P2was also visualized in GFP-PH domain-expressingC. albicans mkc1mutants. Mkc1p phosphorylation was measured as a marker of PKC-Mkc1 pathway activation. Fungicidal activity was assessed using 20-h time-kill assays. Caspofungin immediately induced PI(4,5)P2and Cdc10p colocalization to aberrant foci, a process that was highly dynamic over 3 h. PI(4,5)P2levels increased in a dose-response manner at caspofungin concentrations of ≤4× MIC and progressively decreased at concentrations of ≥8× MIC. Caspofungin exposure resulted in broad-based mother-daughter bud necks and arrested septum-like structures, in which PI(4,5)P2and Cdc10 colocalized. PKC-Mkc1 pathway activation was maximal within 10 min, peaked in response to caspofungin at 4× MIC, and declined at higher concentrations. The caspofungin-induced PI(4,5)P2redistribution remained apparent inmkc1mutants. Caspofungin exerted dose-dependent killing and paradoxical effects at ≤4× and ≥8× MIC, respectively. Fluconazole, amphotericin B, calcofluor white, and H2O2did not impact the PI(4,5)P2or Cdc10p distribution like caspofungin did. Caspofungin exerts rapid PI(4,5)P2-septin and PKC-Mkc1 responses that correlate with the extent ofC. albicanskilling, and the responses are not induced by other antifungal agents. PI(4,5)P2-septin regulation is crucial in early caspofungin responses and PKC-Mkc1 activation.

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