1
|
Gaspar-Cordeiro A, Amaral C, Pobre V, Antunes W, Petronilho A, Paixão P, Matos AP, Pimentel C. Copper Acts Synergistically With Fluconazole in Candida glabrata by Compromising Drug Efflux, Sterol Metabolism, and Zinc Homeostasis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:920574. [PMID: 35774458 PMCID: PMC9237516 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.920574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The synergistic combinations of drugs are promising strategies to boost the effectiveness of current antifungals and thus prevent the emergence of resistance. In this work, we show that copper and the antifungal fluconazole act synergistically against Candida glabrata, an opportunistic pathogenic yeast intrinsically tolerant to fluconazole. Analyses of the transcriptomic profile of C. glabrata after the combination of copper and fluconazole showed that the expression of the multidrug transporter gene CDR1 was decreased, suggesting that fluconazole efflux could be affected. In agreement, we observed that copper inhibits the transactivation of Pdr1, the transcription regulator of multidrug transporters and leads to the intracellular accumulation of fluconazole. Copper also decreases the transcriptional induction of ergosterol biosynthesis (ERG) genes by fluconazole, which culminates in the accumulation of toxic sterols. Co-treatment of cells with copper and fluconazole should affect the function of proteins located in the plasma membrane, as several ultrastructural alterations, including irregular cell wall and plasma membrane and loss of cell wall integrity, were observed. Finally, we show that the combination of copper and fluconazole downregulates the expression of the gene encoding the zinc-responsive transcription regulator Zap1, which possibly, together with the membrane transporters malfunction, generates zinc depletion. Supplementation with zinc reverts the toxic effect of combining copper with fluconazole, underscoring the importance of this metal in the observed synergistic effect. Overall, this work, while unveiling the molecular basis that supports the use of copper to enhance the effectiveness of fluconazole, paves the way for the development of new metal-based antifungal strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gaspar-Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Amaral
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Vânia Pobre
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação da Academia Militar (CINAMIL), Unidade Militar Laboratorial de Defesa Biológica e Química (UMLDBQ), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Petronilho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paulo Paixão
- Unidade de Infeção, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Chronic Diseases Research Centre – CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica – SYNLAB, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António P. Matos
- Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Egas Moniz Higher Education Cooperative, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pimentel
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Catarina Pimentel,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cai Y, Li Y, Liang G. FIT and bHLH Ib transcription factors modulate iron and copper crosstalk in Arabidopsis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:1679-1691. [PMID: 33464620 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Although the crosstalk between iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) homeostasis signalling networks exists in plants, the underlined molecular mechanism remains unclear. FIT (FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR) and four bHLH Ib members (bHLH38, bHLH39, bHLH100 and bHLH101) are the key regulators of Fe homeostasis. Here, we reveal that FIT and bHLH Ib control the up-regulation of Cu-uptake genes (COPT2, FRO4 and FRO5) by Fe deficiency, and Cu is required for improving plant growth under Fe-deficiency conditions. The induction of Cu-uptake gene expression and the elevation of Cu concentration are inhibited in the fit-2 or bhlh4x (the quadruple mutant of four bHLH Ib genes) under Fe-deficiency conditions. The dual overexpression of both bHLH38 (or bHLH39) and FIT activates the expression of COPT2, FRO4 and FRO5 and increases Cu accumulation. Furthermore, bHLH Ib proteins directly bind to the promoters of COPT2, FRO4 and FRO5. Either Cu supplement or overexpression of COPT2 or FRO4 improves the growth of fit-2 under Fe-deficiency conditions. Moreover, the induction of COPT2, FRO4 and FRO5 by Fe deficiency is independent of SPL7, a central regulator of Cu-deficiency responses. This work through the link between bHLH Ib/FIT and COPT2/FRO4/FRO5 under Fe-deficiency conditions establishes a new relationship between Cu and Fe homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuerong Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, China
- The College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, China
| | - Gang Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
da Silva SM, Batista-Nascimento L, Gaspar-Cordeiro A, Vernis L, Pimentel C, Rodrigues-Pousada C. Transcriptional regulation of FeS biogenesis genes: A possible shield against arsenate toxicity activated by Yap1. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:2152-2161. [PMID: 30025855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In the eukaryotic model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, arsenic (As) detoxification is regulated by two transcriptional factors, Yap8 and Yap1. Yap8 specifically controls As extrusion from the cell, whether Yap1 avoids arsenic-induced oxidative damages. Accordingly, cells lacking both Yap1 and Yap8 are more sensitive to arsenate than cells lacking each regulator individually. Strikingly enough, the same sensitivity pattern was observed under anoxia, suggesting that Yap1 role in As detoxification might not be restricted to the regulation of the oxidative stress response. This finding prompted us to study the transcriptomic profile of wild-type and yap1 mutant cells exposed to arsenate. Interestingly, we found that, under such conditions, several genes involved in the biogenesis of FeS proteins were upregulated in a Yap1-dependent way. In line with this observation, arsenate treatment decreases the activity of the mitochondrial aconitase, Aco1, an FeS cluster-containing enzyme, this effect being even more pronounced in the yap1 mutant. Reinforcing the relevance of FeS cluster biogenesis in arsenate detoxification, the overexpression of several ISC and CIA machinery genes alleviates the deleterious effect of arsenate caused by the absence of Yap1 and Yap8. Altogether our data suggest that the upregulation of FeS biogenesis genes regulated by Yap1 might work as a cellular shield against arsenate toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M da Silva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Liliana Batista-Nascimento
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Biology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ana Gaspar-Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Laurence Vernis
- CNRS UMR 3348, Centre Universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; Institut Curie, PSL Research University, UMR 3348, 91405 Orsay, France; Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Catarina Pimentel
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|