The endo-beta-1,3-glucanase eng1p is required for dissolution of the primary septum during cell separation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Fission yeast GPI inositol deacylase Bst1 regulates ER-Golgi transport and functions in late stages of cytokinesis

The Munc13/UNC-13 family protein Ync13 is essential for septum integrity and cytokinesis in fission yeast. To further explore the mechanism of Ync13 functions, spontaneous suppressors of ync13 mutants, which can suppress the colony-formation defects and lysis phenotype of ync13 mutant cells, are isolated and characterized. One of the suppressor mutants, bst1-s27, shows defects in the cytokinetic contractile ring constriction, septation, and daughter cell separation, similar to bst1Δ mutant. Bst1, a predicted GPI inositol deacylase, was an uncharacterized protein in fission yeast. It localizes to ER and puncta structures in the cytoplasm. The Bst1 puncta overlaps frequently with Anp1, which is a marker of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi transport, but rarely with trans-Golgi marker Sec72. The nuclear ER signal of Anp1 increases in bst1Δ mutant, whereas Sec72 localization shows no obvious changes. In addition, more cytoplasmic puncta structures of COPII subunits, Sec13 and Sec24, are observed in bst1Δ mutant, and acid phosphatase secretion is compromised without Bst1. Consistently, the division site targeting of the β-glucanase Eng1 and α-glucanase Agn1 is reduced in bst1Δ and bst1Δ ync13Δ mutant. Taken together, our results suggest that Bst1 regulates ER-Golgi transport and is involved in cytokinesis through regulating the secretion of glucanases.

MaEng1, an endo-1,3-glucanase, contributes to the conidiation pattern shift through changing the cell wall structure in Metarhizium acridum

Microcycle conidiation has displayed the greater potential than normal conidiation in large-scale production of mycopesticides. Fungi require partial hydrolysis of the cell wall to achieve the necessary plasticity during their morphological changes. Therefore, various cell wall-associated hydrolases are crucial for fungal morphogenesis. Eng1, as an endo-β-1,3-glucanase, is involved in the cell separation of fungi, but its role in morphological changes of entomopathogenic fungi is not yet clear. Here, the endo-β-1,3-glucanase gene MaEng1 was characterized in the model entomopathogenic fungi M. acridum. MaEng1 possesses a typical carbohydrate hydrolase domain and belongs to the GH81 family. The functions of MaEng1 in fungal growth, stress tolerance, pathogenicity, and conidiation capacity were analyzed using targeted gene disruption. The results displayed that the absence of MaEng1 does not affect the fungal growth, stress tolerances, and pathogenicity in M. acridum. However, the knockout of MaEng1 led to the normal conidiation of M. acridum on the SYA medium, which can induce the microcycle conidiation. Moreover, the content of β-1,3-glucan in the cell wall of the MaEng1-disruption strain were significantly reduced and the exposures of β-1,3-glucan on the surface of the mature conidia and mycelia in ΔMaEng1 were declined, indicating that MaEng1 contributes to the conversion of conidiation mode in M. acridum by affecting the cell wall structure.

Septins function in exocytosis via physical interactions with the exocyst complex in fission yeast cytokinesis

Septins can function as scaffolds for protein recruitment, membrane-bound diffusion barriers, or membrane curvature sensors. Septins are important for cytokinesis, but their exact roles are still obscure. In fission yeast, four septins (Spn1 to Spn4) accumulate at the rim of the division plane as rings. The octameric exocyst complex, which tethers exocytic vesicles to the plasma membrane, exhibits a similar localization and is essential for plasma membrane deposition during cytokinesis. Without septins, the exocyst spreads across the division plane but absent from the rim during septum formation. These results suggest that septins and the exocyst physically interact for proper localization. Indeed, we predicted six pairs of direct interactions between septin and exocyst subunits by AlphaFold2 ColabFold, most of them are confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays. Exocyst mislocalization results in mistargeting of secretory vesicles and their cargos, which leads to cell-separation delay in septin mutants. Our results indicate that septins guide the targeting of exocyst complex on the plasma membrane for vesicle tethering during cytokinesis through direct physical interactions.

Processes Controlling the Contractile Ring during Cytokinesis in Fission Yeast, Including the Role of ESCRT Proteins

Cytokinesis, as the last stage of the cell division cycle, is a tightly controlled process amongst all eukaryotes, with defective division leading to severe cellular consequences and implicated in serious human diseases and conditions such as cancer. Both mammalian cells and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe use binary fission to divide into two equally sized daughter cells. Similar to mammalian cells, in S. pombe, cytokinetic division is driven by the assembly of an actomyosin contractile ring (ACR) at the cell equator between the two cell tips. The ACR is composed of a complex network of membrane scaffold proteins, actin filaments, myosin motors and other cytokinesis regulators. The contraction of the ACR leads to the formation of a cleavage furrow which is severed by the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) proteins, leading to the final cell separation during the last stage of cytokinesis, the abscission. This review describes recent findings defining the two phases of cytokinesis in S. pombe: ACR assembly and constriction, and their coordination with septation. In summary, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the mechanisms regulating ACR-mediated cytokinesis in S. pombe and emphasize a potential role of ESCRT proteins in this process.

The Roles of Septins in Regulating Fission Yeast Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is required to separate two daughter cells at the end of mitosis, and septins play crucial roles in many aspects of cytokinesis. While septins have been intensively studied in many model organisms, including the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, septins have been relatively less characterized in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which has proven to be an excellent model organism for studying fundamental cell biology. In this review, we summarize the findings of septins made in fission yeasts mainly from four aspects: the domain structure of septins, the localization of septins during the cell cycle, the roles of septins in regulating cytokinesis, and the regulatory proteins of septins.

Cellular responses to compound stress induced by atmospheric-pressure plasma in fission yeast

The stress response is one of the most fundamental cellular processes. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying responses to a single stressor have been extensively studied, cellular responses to multiple stresses remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized fission yeast cellular responses to a novel stress inducer, non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma. Plasma irradiation generates ultraviolet radiation, electromagnetic fields and a variety of chemically reactive species simultaneously, and thus can impose multiple stresses on cells. We applied direct plasma irradiation to fission yeast and showed that strong plasma irradiation inhibited fission yeast growth. We demonstrated that mutants lacking sep1 and ace2, both of which encode transcription factors required for proper cell separation, were resistant to plasma irradiation. Sep1-target transcripts were downregulated by mild plasma irradiation. We also demonstrated that plasma irradiation inhibited the target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (TORC1). These observations indicate that two pathways, namely the Sep1-Ace2 cell separation pathway and TORC1 pathway, operate when fission yeast cope with multiple stresses induced by plasma irradiation.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of MAPK-Mediated Regulation of Pathogenicity, Stress Responses, and Development in Cytospora chrysosperma

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are highly conserved signal transduction pathways that mediate cellular responses to various biotic and abiotic signals in plant-pathogenic fungi. Generally, there are three MAPKs in filamentous pathogenic fungi: Pmk1/Fus3/Kss1, Hog1, and Stl2. Our previous studies have shown that CcPmk1 is a core regulator of fungal pathogenicity in Cytospora chrysosperma, the causal agent of canker disease in a wide range of woody plants. Here, we identified and functionally characterized the other two MAPK genes (CcHog1 and CcSlt2) and then compared the transcriptional differences among these three MAPKs in C. chrysosperma. We found that the MAPKs shared convergent and distinct roles in fungal development, stress responses, and virulence. For example, CcHog1, CcSlt2, and CcPmk1 were all involved in conidiation and response to stresses, including hyperosmotic pressure, cell wall inhibition agents, and H₂O₂, but only CcPmk1 and CcSlt2 were required for hyphal growth and fungal pathogenicity. Transcriptomic analysis showed that numerous hyperosmosis- and cell wall-related genes significantly reduced their expression levels in ΔCcHog1 and ΔCcSlt2, respectively. Interestingly, RNA- and ribosome-related processes were significantly enriched in the upregulated genes of ΔCcSlt2, whereas they were significantly enriched in the downregulated genes of ΔCcPmk1. Moreover, two secondary metabolite gene clusters were significantly downregulated in ΔCcPmk1, ΔCcSlt2, and/or ΔCcHog1. Importantly, some virulence-associated genes were significantly downregulated in ΔCcPmk1 and/or ΔCcSlt2, such as candidate effector genes. Collectively, these results suggest that the similar and distinct phenotypes of each MAPK deletion mutant may result from the transcriptional regulation of a series of common or specific downstream genes, which provides a better understanding of the regulation network of MAPKs in C. chrysosperma.

Mechanisms of Antifungal Properties of Metal Nanoparticles

The appearance of resistant species of fungi to the existent antimycotics is challenging for the scientific community. One emergent technology is the application of nanotechnology to develop novel antifungal agents. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have shown promising results as an alternative to classical antimycotics. This review summarizes and discusses the antifungal mechanisms of metal NPs, including combinations with other antimycotics, covering the period from 2005 to 2022. These mechanisms include but are not limited to the generation of toxic oxygen species and their cellular target, the effect of the cell wall damage and the hyphae and spores, and the mechanisms of defense implied by the fungal cell. Lastly, a description of the impact of NPs on the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles is discussed.

Fission Yeast Rho1p-GEFs: From Polarity and Cell Wall Synthesis to Genome Stability

Rho1p is a membrane-associated protein that belongs to the Rho family of small GTPases. These proteins coordinate processes such as actin remodelling and polarised secretion to maintain the shape and homeostasis of yeast cells. In response to extracellular stimuli, Rho1p undergoes conformational switching between a guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound active state and a guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound inactive state. Cycling is improved with guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity necessary to activate signalling and GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity required for subsequent signal depletion. This review focuses on fission yeast Rho1p GEFs, Rgf1p, Rgf2p, and Rgf3p that belong to the family of DH-PH domain-containing Dbl-related GEFs. They are multi-domain proteins that detect biological signals that induce or inhibit their catalytic activity over Rho1p. Each of them activates Rho1p in different places and times. Rgf1p acts preferentially during polarised growth. Rgf2p is required for sporulation, and Rgf3p plays an essential function in septum synthesis. In addition, we outline the noncanonical roles of Rho1p-GEFs in genomic instability.

Cdc42 GTPase activating proteins Rga4 and Rga6 coordinate septum synthesis and membrane trafficking at the division plane during cytokinesis

Fission yeast cytokinesis is driven by simultaneous septum synthesis, membrane furrowing and actomyosin ring constriction. The septum consists of a primary septum flanked by secondary septa. First, delivery of the glucan synthase Bgs1 and membrane vesicles initiate primary septum synthesis and furrowing. Next, Bgs4 is delivered for secondary septum formation. It is unclear how septum synthesis is coordinated with membrane furrowing. Cdc42 promotes delivery of Bgs1 but not Bgs4. We find that after primary septum initiation, Cdc42 inactivators Rga4 and Rga6 localize to the division site. In rga4Δrga6Δ mutants, Cdc42 activity is enhanced during late cytokinesis and cells take longer to separate. Electron micrographs of the division site in these mutants exhibit malformed septum with irregular membrane structures. These mutants have a larger division plane with enhanced Bgs1 delivery but fail to enhance accumulation of Bgs4 and several exocytic proteins. Additionally, these mutants show endocytic defects at the division site. This suggests that Cdc42 regulates primary septum formation and only certain membrane trafficking events. As cytokinesis progresses Rga4 and Rga6 localize to the division site to decrease Cdc42 activity to allow coupling of Cdc42-independent membrane trafficking events with septum formation for proper septum morphology.

Genetic-interaction screens uncover novel biological roles and regulators of transcription factors in fission yeast

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, systematic analyses of single transcription factor deletion or overexpression strains have made substantial advances in determining the biological roles and target genes of transcription factors, yet these characteristics are still relatively unknown for over a quarter of them. Moreover, the comprehensive list of proteins that regulate transcription factors remains incomplete. To further characterize Schizosaccharomyces pombe transcription factors, we performed synthetic sick/lethality and synthetic dosage lethality screens by synthetic genetic array. Examination of 2,672 transcription factor double deletion strains revealed a sick/lethality interaction frequency of 1.72%. Phenotypic analysis of these sick/lethality strains revealed potential cell cycle roles for several poorly characterized transcription factors, including SPBC56F2.05, SPCC320.03, and SPAC3C7.04. In addition, we examined synthetic dosage lethality interactions between 14 transcription factors and a miniarray of 279 deletion strains, observing a synthetic dosage lethality frequency of 4.99%, which consisted of known and novel transcription factor regulators. The miniarray contained deletions of genes that encode primarily posttranslational-modifying enzymes to identify putative upstream regulators of the transcription factor query strains. We discovered that ubiquitin ligase Ubr1 and its E2/E3-interacting protein, Mub1, degrade the glucose-responsive transcriptional repressor Scr1. Loss of ubr1⁺ or mub1⁺ increased Scr1 protein expression, which resulted in enhanced repression of flocculation through Scr1. The synthetic dosage lethality screen also captured interactions between Scr1 and 2 of its known repressors, Sds23 and Amk2, each affecting flocculation through Scr1 by influencing its nuclear localization. Our study demonstrates that sick/lethality and synthetic dosage lethality screens can be effective in uncovering novel functions and regulators of Schizosaccharomyces pombe transcription factors.

Comparative Genomics of Three Colletotrichum scovillei Strains and Genetic Analysis Revealed Genes Involved in Fungal Growth and Virulence on Chili Pepper

Colletotrichum scovillei causes anthracnose of chili pepper in many countries. Three strains of this pathogen, Coll-524, Coll-153, and Coll-365, show varied virulence on chili pepper. Among the three strains, Coll-365 showed significant defects in growth and virulence. To decipher the genetic variations among these strains and identify genes contributing to growth and virulence, comparative genomic analysis and gene transformation to show gene function were applied in this study. Compared to Coll-524, Coll-153, and Coll-365 had numerous gene losses including 32 candidate effector genes that are mainly exist in acutatum species complex. A cluster of 14 genes in a 34-kb genomic fragment was lost in Coll-365. Through gene transformation, three genes in the 34-kb fragment were identified to have functions in growth and/or virulence of C. scovillei. CsPLAA encoding a phospholipase A2-activating protein enhanced the growth of Coll-365. A combination of CsPLAA with one transcription factor CsBZTF and one C6 zinc finger domain-containing protein CsCZCP was found to enhance the pathogenicity of Coll-365. Introduction of CsGIP, which encodes a hypothetical protein, into Coll-365 caused a reduction in the germination rate of Coll-365. In conclusion, the highest virulent strain Coll-524 had more genes and encoded more pathogenicity related proteins and transposable elements than the other two strains, which may contribute to the high virulence of Coll-524. In addition, the absence of the 34-kb fragment plays a critical role in the defects of growth and virulence of strain Coll-365.

Structural insights into the substrate recognition and catalytic mechanism of a fungal glycoside hydrolase family 81 β-1,3-glucanase

β-1,3-Glucan constitutes a prominent cell wall component being responsible for rigidity and strength of the cell wall structure in filamentous fungi. Glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 81 endo-β-1,3-glucanases which can cleave the long chain of β-1,3-glucans play a major role in fungal cell wall remodeling. Here, we reported the complex structures of a fungal GH family 81 endo-β-1,3-glucanase from Rhizomucor miehei (RmLam81A), revealing the triple-helical β-glucan recognition and hydrolysis patterns. In the crystals, three structured oligosaccharide ligands simultaneously interact with one enzyme molecular via seven glucose residues, and the spatial arrangement of ligands to RmLam81A was almost identical to that of β-1,3-glucan triple-helical structure. RmLam81A performed an inverting catalysis mechanism with Asp475 and Glu557 severing as the general acid and base catalyst, respectively. Furthermore, two hydrophobic patches involving Tyr93, Tyr106, Ile108, Phe619 and Tyr628 alongside the ligand-binding site possibly formed parts of the binding site. A ligand-binding motif, β31-β32, consisting of two key residues (Lys622 and Asp624), involved the recognition of a triple-helical β-glucan. Our results provided a structural basis for the unique β-1,3-glucan recognition pattern and catalytic mechanism of fungal GH family 81 endo-β-1,3-glucanases, which may be helpful in further understanding the diverse physiological functions of β-1,3-glucanases.

Ultrastructural plasma membrane asymmetries in tension and curvature promote yeast cell fusion

Cell-cell fusion is central for sexual reproduction, and generally involves gametes of different shapes and sizes. In walled fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the fusion of h+ and h- isogametes requires the fusion focus, an actin structure that concentrates glucanase-containing vesicles for cell wall digestion. Here, we present a quantitative correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) tomographic dataset of the fusion site, which reveals the fusion focus ultrastructure. Unexpectedly, gametes show marked asymmetries: a taut, convex plasma membrane of h- cells progressively protrudes into a more slack, wavy plasma membrane of h+ cells. Asymmetries are relaxed upon fusion, with observations of ramified fusion pores. h+ cells have a higher exo-/endocytosis ratio than h- cells, and local reduction in exocytosis strongly diminishes membrane waviness. Reciprocally, turgor pressure reduction specifically in h- cells impedes their protrusions into h+ cells and delays cell fusion. We hypothesize that asymmetric membrane conformations, due to differential turgor pressure and exocytosis/endocytosis ratios between mating types, favor cell-cell fusion.

Cdc42 reactivation at growth sites is regulated by local cell-cycle-dependent loss of its GTPase-activating protein Rga4 in fission yeast

In fission yeast, polarized cell growth stops during division and resumes after cytokinesis completes and cells separate. It is unclear how growth reactivation is timed to occur immediately after cell separation. We uncoupled these sequential events by delaying cytokinesis with a temporary Latrunculin A treatment. Mitotic cells recovering from treatment initiate end growth during septation, displaying a polar elongation simultaneous with septation (PrESS) phenotype. PrESS cell ends reactivate Cdc42, a major regulator of polarized growth, during septation, but at a fixed time after anaphase B. A candidate screen implicates Rga4, a negative regulator of Cdc42, in this process. We show that Rga4 appears punctate at the cell sides during G2, but is diffuse during mitosis, extending to the ends. Although the Morphogenesis Orb6 (MOR) pathway is known to promote cell separation and growth by activating protein synthesis, we find that, for polarized growth, removal of Rga4 from the ends is also necessary. Therefore, we propose that growth resumes after division once the MOR pathway is activated and the ends lose Rga4 in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.

The Role of the Cell Integrity Pathway in Septum Assembly in Yeast

Cytokinesis divides a mother cell into two daughter cells at the end of each cell cycle and proceeds via the assembly and constriction of a contractile actomyosin ring (CAR). Ring constriction promotes division furrow ingression, after sister chromatids are segregated to opposing sides of the cleavage plane. Cytokinesis contributes to genome integrity because the cells that fail to complete cytokinesis often reduplicate their chromosomes. While in animal cells, the last steps of cytokinesis involve extracellular matrix remodelling and mid-body abscission, in yeast, CAR constriction is coupled to the synthesis of a polysaccharide septum. To preserve cell integrity during cytokinesis, fungal cells remodel their cell wall through signalling pathways that connect receptors to downstream effectors, initiating a cascade of biological signals. One of the best-studied signalling pathways is the cell wall integrity pathway (CWI) of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its counterpart in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the cell integrity pathway (CIP). Both are signal transduction pathways relying upon a cascade of MAP kinases. However, despite strong similarities in the assembly of the septa in both yeasts, there are significant mechanistic differences, including the relationship of this process with the cell integrity signalling pathways.

Variations of intracellular density during the cell cycle arise from tip-growth regulation in fission yeast

Intracellular density impacts the physical nature of the cytoplasm and can globally affect cellular processes, yet density regulation remains poorly understood. Here, using a new quantitative phase imaging method, we determined that dry-mass density in fission yeast is maintained in a narrow distribution and exhibits homeostatic behavior. However, density varied during the cell cycle, decreasing during G2, increasing in mitosis and cytokinesis, and dropping rapidly at cell birth. These density variations were explained by a constant rate of biomass synthesis, coupled to slowdown of volume growth during cell division and rapid expansion post-cytokinesis. Arrest at specific cell-cycle stages exacerbated density changes. Spatially heterogeneous patterns of density suggested links between density regulation, tip growth, and intracellular osmotic pressure. Our results demonstrate that systematic density variations during the cell cycle are predominantly due to modulation of volume expansion, and reveal functional consequences of density gradients and cell-cycle arrests.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Importance of Exudates on Sclerotial Development in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a ubiquitous necrotrophic pathogenic fungus causing significant losses in a broad range of plant species. Sclerotia formed by S. sclerotiorum play important roles in both the fungal life cycle and the disease development cycle. Sclerotial exudation during sclerotial development is a characteristic feature of this fungus. In this study, a proteome-level investigation of proteins present in sclerotial exudates was conducted by high-throughput LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 258 proteins were identified, in which 193 were annotated by GO annotation and 54 were classified by KEGG analysis. Four proteins related to plant cell wall degradation were further validated by measuring the corresponding enzymatic activity of the sclerotial exudates and/or by assessing the gene expression during sclerotial development. Results indicated that the proteins identified in sclerotial exudates help in the development of sclerotia and contribute to host cell necrosis caused by S. sclerotiorum. Furthermore, we proposed that sclerotial exudates can degrade plant cell walls to release carbohydrates that provide nutrition for fungal growth and possibly facilitate fungal cell wall assembly in developing sclerotia. This study also provides new insights on the morphogenesis and pathogenicity of other sclerotia-forming fungi.

Inhibition of cell membrane ingression at the division site by cell walls in fission yeast

Eukaryotic cells assemble actomyosin rings during cytokinesis to function as force-generating machines to drive membrane invagination and to counteract the intracellular pressure and the cell surface tension. How the extracellular matrix affects actomyosin ring contraction has not been fully explored. While studying the Schizosaccharomyces pombe 1,3-β-glucan-synthase mutant cps1-191, which is defective in division septum synthesis and arrests with a stable actomyosin ring, we found that weakening of the extracellular glycan matrix caused the generated spheroplasts to divide under the nonpermissive condition. This nonmedial slow division was dependent on a functional actomyosin ring and vesicular trafficking, but independent of normal septum synthesis. Interestingly, the high intracellular turgor pressure appears to play a minimal role in inhibiting ring contraction in the absence of cell wall remodeling in cps1-191 mutants, as decreasing the turgor pressure alone did not enable spheroplast division. We propose that during cytokinesis, the extracellular glycan matrix restricts actomyosin ring contraction and membrane ingression, and remodeling of the extracellular components through division septum synthesis relieves the inhibition and facilitates actomyosin ring contraction.

Cdc42 promotes Bgs1 recruitment for septum synthesis and glucanase localization for cell separation during cytokinesis in fission yeast

Cytokinesis in fission yeast involves actomyosin ring constriction concurrent to septum synthesis followed by septum digestion resulting in cell separation. A recent report indicates that endocytosis is required for septum synthesis and cell separation. The conserved GTPase Cdc42 is required for membrane trafficking and promotes endocytosis. Cdc42 is activated by Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Cdc42 GEFs have been shown to promote timely initiation of septum synthesis and proper septum morphology. Here we show that Cdc42 promotes the recruitment of the major primary septum synthesizing enzyme Bgs1 and consequent ring constriction. Cdc42 is also required for proper localization of the septum digesting glucanases at the division site. Thus, Cdc42 is required to promote multiple steps during cytokinesis.

Coordinating septum formation and the actomyosin ring during cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

During cytokinesis, animal and fungal cells form a membrane furrow via actomyosin ring constriction. Our understanding of actomyosin ring-driven cytokinesis stems extensively from the fission yeast model system. However, unlike animal cells, actomyosin ring constriction occurs simultaneously with septum formation in fungi. While the formation of an actomyosin ring is essential for cytokinesis in fission yeast, proper furrow formation also requires septum deposition. The molecular mechanisms of spatiotemporal coordination of septum deposition with actomyosin ring constriction are poorly understood. Although the role of the actomyosin ring as a mechanical structure driving furrow formation is better understood, its role as a spatiotemporal landmark for septum deposition is not widely discussed. Here we review and discuss the recent advances describing how the actomyosin ring spatiotemporally regulates membrane traffic to promote septum-driven cytokinesis in fission yeast. Finally, we explore emerging questions in cytokinesis, and discuss the role of extracellular matrix during cytokinesis in other organisms.

Glucanase-Induced Stipe Wall Extension Shows Distinct Differences from Chitinase-Induced Stipe Wall Extension of Coprinopsis cinerea

This study reports that a high concentration of the endo-β-1,3-glucanase ENG (200 μg ml^-1) induced heat-inactivated stipe wall extension of Coprinopsis cinerea, whereas a high concentration of the extracellular β-glucosidase BGL2 (1,000 μg ml^-1) did not; however, in combination, low concentrations of ENG (25 μg ml^-1) and BGL2 (260 μg ml^-1) induced heat-inactivated stipe cell wall extension. In contrast to the previously reported chitinase-reconstituted stipe wall extension, β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted heat-inactivated stipe cell wall extension initially exhibited a fast extension rate that quickly decreased to zero after approximately 60 min; the stipe cell wall extension induced by a high concentration of β-1,3-glucanase did not result in stipe breakage during measurement, and the inner surfaces of glucanase-reconstituted extended cell walls still remained as amorphous matrices that did not appear to have been damaged. These distinctive features of the β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted wall extension may be because chitin chains are cross-linked not only to the nonreducing termini of the side chains and the backbones of β-1,6 branched β-1,3-glucans but also to other polysaccharides. Remarkably, a low concentration of either the β-1,3-glucanase ENG or of chitinase ChiE1 did not induce heat-inactivated stipe wall extension, but a combination of these two enzymes, each at a low concentration, showed stipe cell wall extension activity that exhibited a steady and continuous wall extension profile. Therefore, we concluded that the stipe cell wall extension is the result of the synergistic actions of glucanases and chitinases.IMPORTANCE We previously reported that the chitinase could induce stipe wall extension and was involved in stipe elongation growth of the mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea In this study, we explored that β-1,3-glucanase also induced stipe cell wall extension. Interestingly, the extension profile and extended ultra-architecture of β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted stipe wall were different from those of chitinase-reconstituted stipe wall. However, β-1,3-glucanase cooperated with chitinase to induce stipe cell wall extension. The significance of this synergy between glucanases and chitinases is that it enables a low concentration of active enzymes to induce wall extension, and the involvement of β-1,3-glucanases is necessary for the cell wall remodeling and the addition of new β-glucans during stipe elongation growth.

Aspergillus fumigatus exoβ(1-3)glucanases family GH55 are essential for conidial cell wall morphogenesis

The cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus is predominantly composed of polysaccharides. The central fibrillar core of the cell wall is composed of a branched β(1-3)glucan, to which the chitin and the galactomannan are covalently bound. Softening of the cell wall is an essential event during fungal morphogenesis, wherein rigid cell wall structures are cleaved by glycosyl hydrolases. In this study, we characterised the role of the glycosyl hydrolase GH55 members in A. fumigatus fungal morphogenesis. We showed that deletion of the six genes of the GH55 family stopped conidial cell wall maturation at the beginning of the development process, leading to abrogation of conidial separation: the shape of conidia became ovoid, and germination was delayed. In conclusion, the reorganisation and structuring of the conidial cell wall mediated by members of the GH55 family is essential for their maturation, normal dissemination, and germination.

Fission yeast TRP channel Pkd2p localizes to the cleavage furrow and regulates cell separation during cytokinesis

Force plays a central role in separating daughter cells during cytokinesis, the last stage of cell division. However, the mechanism of force sensing during cytokinesis remains unknown. Here we discovered that Pkd2p, a putative force-sensing transient receptor potential channel, localizes to the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis of the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Pkd2p, whose human homologues are associated with autosomal polycystic kidney disease, is an essential protein whose localization depends on the contractile ring and the secretory pathway. We identified and characterized a novel pkd2 mutant pkd2-81KD. The pkd2 mutant cells show signs of osmotic stress, including temporary shrinking, paused turnover of the cytoskeletal structures, and hyperactivated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. During cytokinesis, although the contractile ring constricts more rapidly in the pkd2 mutant than the wild-type cells (50% higher), the cell separation in the mutant is slower and often incomplete. These cytokinesis defects are also consistent with misregulated turgor pressure. Finally, the pkd2 mutant exhibits strong genetic interactions with two mutants of the septation initiation network pathway, a signaling cascade essential for cytokinesis. We propose that Pkd2p modulates osmotic homeostasis and is potentially a novel regulator of cytokinesis.

Fission Yeast NDR/LATS Kinase Orb6 Regulates Exocytosis via Phosphorylation of the Exocyst Complex

NDR/LATS kinases regulate multiple aspects of cell polarity and morphogenesis from yeast to mammals. Fission yeast NDR/LATS kinase Orb6 has been proposed to control cell polarity by regulating the Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor Gef1. Here, we show that Orb6 regulates polarity largely independently of Gef1 and that Orb6 positively regulates exocytosis. Through Orb6 inhibition in vivo and quantitative global phosphoproteomics, we identify Orb6 targets, including proteins involved in membrane trafficking. We confirm Sec3 and Sec5, conserved components of the exocyst complex, as substrates of Orb6 both in vivo and in vitro, and we show that Orb6 kinase activity is important for exocyst localization to cell tips and for exocyst activity during septum dissolution after cytokinesis. We further find that Orb6 phosphorylation of Sec3 contributes to exocyst function in concert with exocyst protein Exo70. We propose that Orb6 contributes to polarized growth by regulating membrane trafficking at multiple levels.

Glucanases and Chitinases

In many yeast and fungi, β-(1,3)-glucan and chitin are essential components of the cell wall, an important structure that surrounds cells and which is responsible for their mechanical protection and necessary for maintaining the cellular shape. In addition, the cell wall is a dynamic structure that needs to be remodelled along with the different phases of the fungal life cycle or in response to extracellular stimuli. Since β-(1,3)-glucan and chitin perform a central structural role in the assembly of the cell wall, it has been postulated that β-(1,3)-glucanases and chitinases should perform an important function in cell wall softening and remodelling. This review focusses on fungal glucanases and chitinases and their role during fungal morphogenesis.

Fission yeast cell wall biosynthesis and cell integrity signalling

The cell wall is a structure external to the plasma membrane that is essential for the survival of the fungi. This polysaccharidic structure confers resistance to the cell internal turgor pressure and protection against mechanical injury. The fungal wall is also responsible for the shape of these organisms due to different structural polysaccharides, such as β-(1,3)-glucan, which form fibers and confer rigidity to the cell wall. These polysaccharides are not present in animal cells and therefore they constitute excellent targets for antifungal chemotherapies. Cell wall damage leads to the activation of MAPK signaling pathways, which respond to the damage by activating the repair of the wall and the maintenance of the cell integrity. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a model organism for the study morphogenesis, cell wall, and how different inputs might regulate this structure. We present here a short overview of the fission yeast wall composition and provide information about the main biosynthetic activities that assemble this cell wall. Additionally, we comment the recent advances in the knowledge of the cell wall functions and discuss the role of the cell integrity MAPK signaling pathway in the regulation of fission yeast wall.

Roles of the fission yeast UNC-13/Munc13 protein Ync13 in late stages of cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is a complicated yet conserved step of the cell-division cycle that requires the coordination of multiple proteins and cellular processes. Here we describe a previously uncharacterized protein, Ync13, and its roles during fission yeast cytokinesis. Ync13 is a member of the UNC-13/Munc13 protein family, whose animal homologues are essential priming factors for soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex assembly during exocytosis in various cell types, but no roles in cytokinesis have been reported. We find that Ync13 binds to lipids in vitro and dynamically localizes to the plasma membrane at cell tips during interphase and at the division site during cytokinesis. Deletion of Ync13 leads to defective septation and exocytosis, uneven distribution of cell-wall enzymes and components of cell-wall integrity pathway along the division site and massive cell lysis during cell separation. Interestingly, loss of Ync13 compromises endocytic site selection at the division plane. Collectively, we find that Ync13 has a novel function as an UNC-13/Munc13 protein in coordinating exocytosis, endocytosis, and cell-wall integrity during fission yeast cytokinesis.

Autolysis of Pichia pastoris induced by cold

The production of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins is a multi-billion dollar market. Protein recovery represents a major part of the production costs. Pichia pastoris is one of the microbial systems most used for the production of heterologous proteins. The use of a cold-induced promoter to express lytic enzymes in the yeast after the growth stage could reduce protein recovery costs. This study shows that a cold-shock can be applied to induce lysis of the yeast cells. A strain of P. pastoris was constructed in which the endogenous eng gene encoding a putative endo-β-1,3-glucanase was overexpressed using the cold-shock induced promoter of the cctα gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the transgenic P. pastoris, the expression of eng increased 3.6-fold after chilling the cells from 30 to 4 °C (cold-shock stage) followed by incubation for 6 h (eng expression stage). The culture was heated to 30 °C for 6 h (ENG synthesis stage) and kept at 37 °C for 24 h (lysis stage). After this procedure the cell morphology changed, spheroplasts were obtained and cellular lysis was observed. Thus, a clone of P. pastoris was obtained, which undergoes autolysis after a cold-shock.

The exocyst subunit Sec3 is regulated by a protein quality control pathway

Exocytosis involves fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane, thereby delivering membrane proteins to the cell surface and releasing material into the extracellular space. The tethering of the secretory vesicles before membrane fusion is mediated by the exocyst, an essential phylogenetically conserved octameric protein complex. Exocyst biogenesis is regulated by several processes, but the mechanisms by which the exocyst is degraded are unknown. Here, to unravel the components of the exocyst degradation pathway, we screened for extragenic suppressors of a temperature-sensitive fission yeast strain mutated in the exocyst subunit Sec3 (sec3-913). One of the suppressing DNAs encoded a truncated dominant-negative variant of the 26S proteasome subunit, Rpt2, indicating that exocyst degradation is controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The temperature-dependent growth defect of the sec3-913 strain was gene dosage-dependent and suppressed by blocking the proteasome, Hsp70-type molecular chaperones, the Pib1 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, and the deubiquitylating enzyme Ubp3. Moreover, defects in cell septation, exocytosis, and endocytosis in sec3 mutant strains were similarly alleviated by mutation of components in this pathway. We also found that, particularly under stress conditions, wild-type Sec3 degradation is regulated by Pib1 and the 26S proteasome. In conclusion, our results suggest that a cytosolic protein quality control pathway monitors folding and proteasome-dependent turnover of an exocyst subunit and, thereby, controls exocytosis in fission yeast.

The Fungal Cell Wall: Structure, Biosynthesis, and Function

The molecular composition of the cell wall is critical for the biology and ecology of each fungal species. Fungal walls are composed of matrix components that are embedded and linked to scaffolds of fibrous load-bearing polysaccharides. Most of the major cell wall components of fungal pathogens are not represented in humans, other mammals, or plants, and therefore the immune systems of animals and plants have evolved to recognize many of the conserved elements of fungal walls. For similar reasons the enzymes that assemble fungal cell wall components are excellent targets for antifungal chemotherapies and fungicides. However, for fungal pathogens, the cell wall is often disguised since key signature molecules for immune recognition are sometimes masked by immunologically inert molecules. Cell wall damage leads to the activation of sophisticated fail-safe mechanisms that shore up and repair walls to avoid catastrophic breaching of the integrity of the surface. The frontiers of research on fungal cell walls are moving from a descriptive phase defining the underlying genes and component parts of fungal walls to more dynamic analyses of how the various components are assembled, cross-linked, and modified in response to environmental signals. This review therefore discusses recent advances in research investigating the composition, synthesis, and regulation of cell walls and how the cell wall is targeted by immune recognition systems and the design of antifungal diagnostics and therapeutics.

The Fungal Cell Wall: Structure, Biosynthesis, and Function

The molecular composition of the cell wall is critical for the biology and ecology of each fungal species. Fungal walls are composed of matrix components that are embedded and linked to scaffolds of fibrous load-bearing polysaccharides. Most of the major cell wall components of fungal pathogens are not represented in humans, other mammals, or plants, and therefore the immune systems of animals and plants have evolved to recognize many of the conserved elements of fungal walls. For similar reasons the enzymes that assemble fungal cell wall components are excellent targets for antifungal chemotherapies and fungicides. However, for fungal pathogens, the cell wall is often disguised since key signature molecules for immune recognition are sometimes masked by immunologically inert molecules. Cell wall damage leads to the activation of sophisticated fail-safe mechanisms that shore up and repair walls to avoid catastrophic breaching of the integrity of the surface. The frontiers of research on fungal cell walls are moving from a descriptive phase defining the underlying genes and component parts of fungal walls to more dynamic analyses of how the various components are assembled, cross-linked, and modified in response to environmental signals. This review therefore discusses recent advances in research investigating the composition, synthesis, and regulation of cell walls and how the cell wall is targeted by immune recognition systems and the design of antifungal diagnostics and therapeutics.

A New Membrane Protein Sbg1 Links the Contractile Ring Apparatus and Septum Synthesis Machinery in Fission Yeast

Cytokinesis in many organisms requires a plasma membrane anchored actomyosin ring, whose contraction facilitates cell division. In yeast and fungi, actomyosin ring constriction is also coordinated with division septum assembly. How the actomyosin ring interacts with the plasma membrane and the plasma membrane-localized septum synthesizing machinery remains poorly understood. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, an attractive model organism to study cytokinesis, the β-1,3-glucan synthase Cps1p / Bgs1p, an integral membrane protein, localizes to the plasma membrane overlying the actomyosin ring and is required for primary septum synthesis. Through a high-dosage suppressor screen we identified an essential gene, sbg1⁺ (suppressor of beta glucan synthase 1), which suppressed the colony formation defect of Bgs1-defective cps1-191 mutant at higher temperatures. Sbg1p, an integral membrane protein, localizes to the cell ends and to the division site. Sbg1p and Bgs1p physically interact and are dependent on each other to localize to the division site. Loss of Sbg1p results in an unstable actomyosin ring that unravels and slides, leading to an inability to deposit a single contiguous division septum and an important reduction of the β-1,3-glucan proportion in the cell wall, coincident with that observed in the cps1-191 mutant. Sbg1p shows genetic and / or physical interaction with Rga7p, Imp2p, Cdc15p, and Pxl1p, proteins known to be required for actomyosin ring integrity and efficient septum synthesis. This study establishes Sbg1p as a key member of a group of proteins that link the plasma membrane, the actomyosin ring, and the division septum assembly machinery in fission yeast.

Cell division in many organisms requires the function of an actomyosin ring, an apparatus that resembles the force generating machinery in the muscle. This ring apparatus is attached to the cell periphery (cell membranes) such that when it contracts, it brings the cell periphery together with it, leading to cell division. How the actomyosin ring is attached to the cell membrane at the division site is unknown. In this manuscript, we identify and describe Sbg1, a protein that links the actomyosin ring and the cell membranes since Sbg1 has a sequence that allows it to be inserted into the cell membrane. Sbg1 specifically localizes to the cell division site and also cooperates with a cell wall biosynthetic enzyme Bgs1 to achieve cell division. Consistently, in the absence of Sbg1, cells fail to divide leading to lethality. Sbg1 interacts with a number of cell division proteins, such as Cdc15, Rga7, Imp2, and Pxl1, to achieve its function as a bridge between the cell membrane and the actomyosin ring. Our work identifies a direct molecular link between the actomyosin ring and the cell membranes, explaining how ring contraction leads to inward movement of the cell periphery.

CSL protein regulates transcription of genes required to prevent catastrophic mitosis in fission yeast

For every eukaryotic cell to grow and divide, intricately coordinated action of numerous proteins is required to ensure proper cell-cycle progression. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been instrumental in elucidating the fundamental principles of cell-cycle control. Mutations in S. pombe 'cut' (cell untimely torn) genes cause failed coordination between cell and nuclear division, resulting in catastrophic mitosis. Deletion of cbf11, a fission yeast CSL transcription factor gene, triggers a 'cut' phenotype, but the precise role of Cbf11 in promoting mitotic fidelity is not known. We report that Cbf11 directly activates the transcription of the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase gene cut6, and the biotin uptake/biosynthesis genes vht1 and bio2, with the former 2 implicated in mitotic fidelity. Cbf11 binds to a canonical, metazoan-like CSL response element (GTGGGAA) in the cut6 promoter. Expression of Cbf11 target genes shows apparent oscillations during the cell cycle using temperature-sensitive cdc25-22 and cdc10-M17 block-release experiments, but not with other synchronization methods. The penetrance of catastrophic mitosis in cbf11 and cut6 mutants is nutrient-dependent. We also show that drastic decrease in biotin availability arrests cell proliferation but does not cause mitotic defects. Taken together, our results raise the possibility that CSL proteins play conserved roles in regulating cell-cycle progression, and they could guide experiments into mitotic CSL functions in mammals.

Spatial control of translation repression and polarized growth by conserved NDR kinase Orb6 and RNA-binding protein Sts5

RNA-binding proteins contribute to the formation of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules by phase transition, but regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. Conserved fission yeast NDR (Nuclear Dbf2-Related) kinase Orb6 governs cell morphogenesis in part by spatially controlling Cdc42 GTPase. Here we describe a novel, independent function for Orb6 kinase in negatively regulating the recruitment of RNA-binding protein Sts5 into RNPs to promote polarized cell growth. We find that Orb6 kinase inhibits Sts5 recruitment into granules, its association with processing (P) bodies, and degradation of Sts5-bound mRNAs by promoting Sts5 interaction with 14-3-3 protein Rad24. Many Sts5-bound mRNAs encode essential factors for polarized cell growth, and Orb6 kinase spatially and temporally controls the extent of Sts5 granule formation. Disruption of this control system affects cell morphology and alters the pattern of polarized cell growth, revealing a role for Orb6 kinase in the spatial control of translational repression that enables normal cell morphogenesis.

GH16 and GH81 family β-(1,3)-glucanases in Aspergillus fumigatus are essential for conidial cell wall morphogenesis

The fungal cell wall is a rigid structure because of fibrillar and branched β-(1,3)-glucan linked to chitin. Softening of the cell wall is an essential phenomenon during fungal morphogenesis, wherein rigid cell wall structures are cleaved by glycosylhydrolases. During the search for glycosylhydrolases acting on β-(1,3)-glucan, we identified seven genes in the Aspergillus fumigatus genome coding for potential endo-β-(1,3)-glucanase. ENG1 (previously characterized and named ENGL1, Mouyna et al., ), belongs to the Glycoside-Hydrolase 81 (GH81) family, while ENG2 to ENG7, to GH16 family. ENG1 and four GH16 genes (ENG2-5) were expressed in the resting conidia as well as during germination, suggesting an essential role during A. fumigatus morphogenesis. Here, we report the effect of sequential deletion of AfENG2-5 (GH16) followed by AfENG1 (GH81) deletion in the Δeng2,3,4,5 mutant. The Δeng1,2,3,4,5 mutant showed conidial defects, with linear chains of conidia unable to separate while the germination rate was not affected. These results show, for the first time in a filamentous fungus, that endo β-(1,3)-glucanases are essential for proper conidial cell wall assembly and thus segregation of conidia during conidiation.

The Eng1 β-Glucanase Enhances Histoplasma Virulence by Reducing β-Glucan Exposure

The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum parasitizes host phagocytes. To avoid antimicrobial immune responses, Histoplasma yeasts must minimize their detection by host receptors while simultaneously interacting with the phagocyte. Pathogenic Histoplasma yeast cells, but not avirulent mycelial cells, secrete the Eng1 protein, which is a member of the glycosylhydrolase 81 (GH81) family. We show that Histoplasma Eng1 is a glucanase that hydrolyzes β-(1,3)-glycosyl linkages but is not required for Histoplasma growth in vitro or for cell separation. However, Histoplasma yeasts lacking Eng1 function have attenuated virulence in vivo, particularly during the cell-mediated immunity stage. Histoplasma yeasts deficient for Eng1 show increased exposure of cell wall β-glucans, which results in enhanced binding to the Dectin-1 β-glucan receptor. Consistent with this, Eng1-deficient yeasts trigger increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine production from macrophages and dendritic cells. While not responsible for large-scale cell wall structure and function, the secreted Eng1 reduces levels of exposed β-glucans at the yeast cell wall, thereby diminishing potential recognition by Dectin-1 and proinflammatory cytokine production by phagocytes. In α-glucan-producing Histoplasma strains, Eng1 acts in concert with α-glucan to minimize β-glucan exposure: α-glucan provides a masking function by covering the β-glucan-rich cell wall, while Eng1 removes any remaining exposed β-glucans. Thus, Histoplasma Eng1 has evolved a specialized pathogenesis function to remove exposed β-glucans, thereby enhancing the ability of yeasts to escape detection by host phagocytes.

IMPORTANCE

The success of Histoplasma capsulatum as an intracellular pathogen results, in part, from an ability to minimize its detection by receptors on phagocytic cells of the immune system. In this study, we showed that Histoplasma pathogenic yeast cells, but not avirulent mycelia, secrete a β-glucanase, Eng1, which reduces recognition of fungal cell wall β-glucans. We demonstrated that the Eng1 β-glucanase promotes Histoplasma virulence by reducing levels of surface-exposed β-glucans on yeast cells, thereby enabling Histoplasma yeasts to escape detection by the host β-glucan receptor, Dectin-1. As a consequence, phagocyte recognition of Histoplasma yeasts is reduced, leading to less proinflammatory cytokine production by phagocytes and less control of Histoplasma infection in vivo Thus, Histoplasma yeasts express two mechanisms to avoid phagocyte detection: masking of cell wall β-glucans by α-glucan and enzymatic removal of exposed β-glucans by the Eng1 β-glucanase.

The price of independence: cell separation in fission yeast

The ultimate goal of cell division is to give rise to two viable independent daughter cells. A tight spatial and temporal regulation between chromosome segregation and cytokinesis ensures the viability of the daughter cells. Schizosaccharomyces pombe, commonly known as fission yeast, has become a leading model organism for studying essential and conserved mechanisms of the eukaryotic cell division process. Like many other eukaryotic cells it divides by binary fission and the cleavage furrow undergoes ingression due to the contraction of an actomyosin ring. In contrast to mammalian cells, yeasts as cell-walled organisms, also need to form a division septum made of cell wall material to complete the process of cytokinesis. The division septum is deposited behind the constricting ring and it will constitute the new ends of the daughter cells. Cell separation also involves cell wall degradation and this process should be precisely regulated to avoid cell lysis. In this review, we will give a brief overview of the whole cytokinesis process in fission yeast, from the positioning and assembly of the contractile ring to the final step of cell separation, and the problems generated when these processes are not precise.

Molecular control of fission yeast cytokinesis

Cytokinesis gives rise to two independent daughter cells at the end of the cell division cycle. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has emerged as one of the most powerful systems to understand how cytokinesis is controlled molecularly. Like in most eukaryotes, fission yeast cytokinesis depends on an acto-myosin based contractile ring that assembles at the division site under the control of spatial cues that integrate information on cell geometry and the position of the mitotic apparatus. Cytokinetic events are also tightly coordinated with nuclear division by the cell cycle machinery. These spatial and temporal regulations ensure an equal cleavage of the cytoplasm and an accurate segregation of the genetic material in daughter cells. Although this model system has specificities, the basic mechanisms of contractile ring assembly and function deciphered in fission yeast are highly valuable to understand how cytokinesis is controlled in other organisms that rely on a contractile ring for cell division.

Role of BGT-1 and BGT-2, two predicted GPI-anchored glycoside hydrolases/glycosyltransferases, in cell wall remodeling in Neurospora crassa

Neurospora crassa BGT-1 (NCU06381) and BGT-2 (NCU09175) are two putative glycoside hydrolases (GHs) with additional predicted glycosyltransferase activity and binding sites for a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor that would facilitate their attachment to the plasma membrane (PM). To discern their role in key morphogenetic events during vegetative development of N. crassa, BGT-1 and BGT-2 were labeled with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The gfp was inserted immediately after the signal peptide sequence, within the bgt-1 encoding sequence, or directly before the GPI-binding site in the case of bgt-2. Both BGT-1-GFP and BGT-2-GFP were observed at the PM of the hyphal apical dome, excluding the foremost apical region and the Spitzenkörper (Spk), where chitin and β-1,3-glucan synthases have been previously found. These and previous studies suggest a division of labor of the cell wall synthesizing machinery at the hyphal dome: at the very tip, glucans are synthesized by enzymes that accumulate at the Spk, before getting incorporated into the PM, whereas at the subtending zone below the apex, glucans are presumably hydrolyzed, producing amenable ends for further branching and crosslinking with other cell wall polymers. Additionally, BGT-1-GFP and BGT-2-GFP were observed at the leading edge of new developing septa, at unreleased interconidial junctions, at conidial poles, at germling and hyphal fusion sites, and at sites of branch emergence, all of them processes that seemingly involve cell wall remodeling. Even though single and double mutant strains for the corresponding genes did not show a drastic reduction of growth rate, bgt-2Δ and bgt-1Δ::bgt-2Δ strains exhibited an increased resistance to the cell wall stressors calcofluor white (CW) and congo red (CR) than the reference strain, which suggests they present significant architectural changes in their cell wall. Furthermore, the conidiation defects observed in the mutants indicate a significant role of BGT-1 and BGT-2 on the re-arrangement of glucans needed at the conidiophore cell wall to allow conidial separation.

Fungal chitinases: function, regulation, and potential roles in plant/pathogen interactions

In the past decades our knowledge about fungal cell wall architecture increased tremendously and led to the identification of many enzymes involved in polysaccharide synthesis and remodeling, which are also of biotechnological interest. Fungal cell walls play an important role in conferring mechanic stability during cell division and polar growth. Additionally, in phytopathogenic fungi the cell wall is the first structure that gets into intimate contact with the host plant. A major constituent of fungal cell walls is chitin, a homopolymer of N-acetylglucosamine units. To ensure plasticity, polymeric chitin needs continuous remodeling which is maintained by chitinolytic enzymes, including lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases N-acetylglucosaminidases, and chitinases. Depending on the species and lifestyle of fungi, there is great variation in the number of encoded chitinases and their function. Chitinases can have housekeeping function in plasticizing the cell wall or can act more specifically during cell separation, nutritional chitin acquisition, or competitive interaction with other fungi. Although chitinase research made huge progress in the last decades, our knowledge about their role in phytopathogenic fungi is still scarce. Recent findings in the dimorphic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis show that chitinases play different physiological functions throughout the life cycle and raise questions about their role during plant-fungus interactions. In this work we summarize these functions, mechanisms of chitinase regulation and their putative role during pathogen/host interactions.

Fission Yeast CSL Transcription Factors: Mapping Their Target Genes and Biological Roles

BACKGROUND

Cbf11 and Cbf12, the fission yeast CSL transcription factors, have been implicated in the regulation of cell-cycle progression, but no specific roles have been described and their target genes have been only partially mapped.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Using a combination of transcriptome profiling under various conditions and genome-wide analysis of CSL-DNA interactions, we identify genes regulated directly and indirectly by CSL proteins in fission yeast. We show that the expression of stress-response genes and genes that are expressed periodically during the cell cycle is deregulated upon genetic manipulation of cbf11 and/or cbf12. Accordingly, the coordination of mitosis and cytokinesis is perturbed in cells with genetically manipulated CSL protein levels, together with other specific defects in cell-cycle progression. Cbf11 activity is nutrient-dependent and Δcbf11-associated defects are mitigated by inactivation of the protein kinase A (Pka1) and stress-activated MAP kinase (Sty1p38) pathways. Furthermore, Cbf11 directly regulates a set of lipid metabolism genes and Δcbf11 cells feature a stark decrease in the number of storage lipid droplets.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our results provide a framework for a more detailed understanding of the role of CSL proteins in the regulation of cell-cycle progression in fission yeast.

Mechanics and morphogenesis of fission yeast cells

The integration of biochemical and biomechanical elements is at the heart of morphogenesis. While animal cells are relatively soft objects which shape and mechanics is mostly regulated by cytoskeletal networks, walled cells including those of plants, fungi and bacteria are encased in a rigid cell wall which resist high internal turgor pressure. How these particular mechanical properties may influence basic cellular processes, such as growth, shape and division remains poorly understood. Recent work using the model fungal cell fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, highlights important contribution of cell mechanics to various morphogenesis processes. We envision this genetically tractable system to serve as a novel standard for the mechanobiology of walled cell.

Regulation of Ace2-dependent genes requires components of the PBF complex in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The division cycle of unicellular yeasts is completed with the activation of a cell separation program that results in the dissolution of the septum assembled during cytokinesis between the 2 daughter cells, allowing them to become independent entities. Expression of the eng1(+) and agn1(+) genes, encoding the hydrolytic enzymes responsible for septum degradation, is activated at the end of each cell cycle by the transcription factor Ace2. Periodic ace2(+) expression is regulated by the transcriptional complex PBF (PCB Binding Factor), composed of the forkhead-like proteins Sep1 and Fkh2 and the MADS box-like protein Mbx1. In this report, we show that Ace2-dependent genes contain several combinations of motifs for Ace2 and PBF binding in their promoters. Thus, Ace2, Fkh2 and Sep1 were found to bind in vivo to the eng1(+) promoter. Ace2 binding was coincident with maximum level of eng1(+) expression, whereas Fkh2 binding was maximal when mRNA levels were low, supporting the notion that they play opposing roles. In addition, we found that the expression of eng1(+) and agn1(+) was differentially affected by mutations in PBF components. Interestingly, agn1(+) was a major target of Mbx1, since its ectopic expression resulted in the suppression of Mbx1 deletion phenotypes. Our results reveal a complex regulation system through which the transcription factors Ace2, Fkh2, Sep1 and Mbx1 in combination control the expression of the genes involved in separation at the end of the cell division cycle.

A formin-nucleated actin aster concentrates cell wall hydrolases for cell fusion in fission yeast

The formin Fus1 nucleates a novel actin structure in fission yeast, named the actin fusion focus, which consists of an aster of actin filaments whose barbed ends are focalized at a membrane proximal site and serves to focalize cell wall hydrolase delivery for cell fusion.

Cell–cell fusion is essential for fertilization. For fusion of walled cells, the cell wall must be degraded at a precise location but maintained in surrounding regions to protect against lysis. In fission yeast cells, the formin Fus1, which nucleates linear actin filaments, is essential for this process. In this paper, we show that this formin organizes a specific actin structure—the actin fusion focus. Structured illumination microscopy and live-cell imaging of Fus1, actin, and type V myosins revealed an aster of actin filaments whose barbed ends are focalized near the plasma membrane. Focalization requires Fus1 and type V myosins and happens asynchronously always in the M cell first. Type V myosins are essential for fusion and concentrate cell wall hydrolases, but not cell wall synthases, at the fusion focus. Thus, the fusion focus focalizes cell wall dissolution within a broader cell wall synthesis zone to shift from cell growth to cell fusion.

A single nucleotide polymorphism uncovers a novel function for the transcription factor Ace2 during Candida albicans hyphal development

Candida albicans is a major invasive fungal pathogen in humans. An important virulence factor is its ability to switch between the yeast and hyphal forms, and these filamentous forms are important in tissue penetration and invasion. A common feature for filamentous growth is the ability to inhibit cell separation after cytokinesis, although it is poorly understood how this process is regulated developmentally. In C. albicans, the formation of filaments during hyphal growth requires changes in septin ring dynamics. In this work, we studied the functional relationship between septins and the transcription factor Ace2, which controls the expression of enzymes that catalyze septum degradation. We found that alternative translation initiation produces two Ace2 isoforms. While full-length Ace2, Ace2L, influences septin dynamics in a transcription-independent manner in hyphal cells but not in yeast cells, the use of methionine-55 as the initiation codon gives rise to Ace2S, which functions as the nuclear transcription factor required for the expression of cell separation genes. Genetic evidence indicates that Ace2L influences the incorporation of the Sep7 septin to hyphal septin rings in order to avoid inappropriate activation of cell separation during filamentous growth. Interestingly, a natural single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) present in the C. albicans WO-1 background and other C. albicans commensal and clinical isolates generates a stop codon in the ninth codon of Ace2L that mimics the phenotype of cells lacking Ace2L. Finally, we report that Ace2L and Ace2S interact with the NDR kinase Cbk1 and that impairing activity of this kinase results in a defect in septin dynamics similar to that of hyphal cells lacking Ace2L. Together, our findings identify Ace2L and the NDR kinase Cbk1 as new elements of the signaling system that modify septin ring dynamics in hyphae to allow cell-chain formation, a feature that appears to have evolved in specific C. albicans lineages.

Rho4 interaction with exocyst and septins regulates cell separation in fission yeast

Rho GTPases are small proteins present in all eukaryotic cells, from yeast to mammals, with a function in actin organization and morphogenetic processes. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rho4 is not essential but it displays a role during cell separation at high temperature. In fact, Rho4 is involved in the secretion of the hydrolytic enzymes that are required for cell septum degradation during this process. In rho4Δ cells, vesicles accumulate in the septum area and the glucanases Eng1 and Agn1 are not secreted to the culture medium. The localization of Eng1 and Agn1 depends on the exocyst and the septins. The exocyst is a conserved multiprotein complex important for the targeting and fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles with the plasma membrane. Septins are a family of GTP-binding proteins conserved in eukaryotes that function during cytokinesis. Here we show that Rho4 is required for the proper localization of the exocyst and septins at high temperature. Moreover, pull-down experiments demonstrate that Rho4 can interact with exocyst subunits, such as Sec8 and Exo70, and septin proteins, such as Spn3. We observe that Sec8 preferentially binds to activated GTP-Rho4, suggesting that Sec8 could be an effector of this GTPase. We propose that the interaction of Rho4 with the exocyst and septins confers a precise regulation for the secretion of glucanases at the appropriate place and time during the cell cycle.