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Li H, Dai J, Wang J, Lu C, Luo Z, Zheng X, Lu Z, Yang Z. Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses Propose the Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms Underlying 1,8-Cineole from Cinnamomum kanehirae Hay and Promote the Asexual Sporulation of Antrodia cinnamomea in Submerged Fermentation. Molecules 2023; 28:7511. [PMID: 38005233 PMCID: PMC10672923 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Antrodia cinnamomea is a valuable edible and medicinal mushroom with antitumor, hepatoprotective, and antiviral effects that play a role in intestinal flora regulation. Spore-inoculation submerged fermentation has become the most efficient and well-known artificial culture process for A. cinnamomea. In this study, a specific low-molecular compound named 1,8-cineole (cineole) from Cinnamomum kanehirae Hay was first reported to have remarkably promoted the asexual sporulation of A. cinnamomea in submerged fermentation (AcSmF). Then, RNA sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR, and a literature review were performed to predict the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the cineole-promoted sporulation of AcSmF. The available evidence supports the hypothesis that after receiving the signal of cineole through cell receptors Wsc1 and Mid2, Pkc1 promoted the expression levels of rlm1 and wetA and facilitated their transfer to the cell wall integrity (CWI) signal pathway, and wetA in turn promoted the sporulation of AcSmF. Moreover, cineole changed the membrane functional state of the A. cinnamomea cell and thus activated the heat stress response by the CWI pathway. Then, heat shock protein 90 and its chaperone Cdc37 promoted the expression of stuA and brlA, thus promoting sporulation of AcSmF. In addition, cineole promoted the expression of areA, flbA, and flbD through the transcription factor NCP1 and inhibited the expression of pkaA through the ammonium permease of MEP, finally promoting the sporulation of AcSmF. This study may improve the efficiency of the inoculum (spores) preparation of AcSmF and thereby enhance the production benefits of A. cinnamomea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiang Li
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jianing Dai
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Chunlei Lu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Zhishan Luo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
| | - Xiangfeng Zheng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Zhenming Lu
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
| | - Zhenquan Yang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (H.L.); (J.D.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (X.Z.)
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Yoshimi A, Miyazawa K, Kawauchi M, Abe K. Cell Wall Integrity and Its Industrial Applications in Filamentous Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050435. [PMID: 35628691 PMCID: PMC9148135 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050435] [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: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction pathways regulating cell wall integrity (CWI) in filamentous fungi have been studied taking into account findings in budding yeast, and much knowledge has been accumulated in recent years. Given that the cell wall is essential for viability in fungi, its architecture has been analyzed in relation to virulence, especially in filamentous fungal pathogens of plants and humans. Although research on CWI signaling in individual fungal species has progressed, an integrated understanding of CWI signaling in diverse fungi has not yet been achieved. For example, the variety of sensor proteins and their functional differences among different fungal species have been described, but the understanding of their general and species-specific biological functions is limited. Our long-term research interest is CWI signaling in filamentous fungi. Here, we outline CWI signaling in these fungi, from sensor proteins required for the recognition of environmental changes to the regulation of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis genes. We discuss the similarities and differences between the functions of CWI signaling factors in filamentous fungi and in budding yeast. We also describe the latest findings on industrial applications, including those derived from studies on CWI signaling: the development of antifungal agents and the development of highly productive strains of filamentous fungi with modified cell surface characteristics by controlling cell wall biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshimi
- Laboratory of Environmental Interface Technology of Filamentous Fungi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan; (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
| | - Ken Miyazawa
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
- Laboratory of Filamentous Mycoses, Department of Fungal Infection, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan;
| | - Moriyuki Kawauchi
- Laboratory of Environmental Interface Technology of Filamentous Fungi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan; (A.Y.); (M.K.)
| | - Keietsu Abe
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-22-757-4355
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Jin J, Iwama R, Takagi K, Horiuchi H. AP-2 complex contributes to hyphal-tip-localization of a chitin synthase in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:806-814. [PMID: 34537176 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi maintain hyphal growth to continually internalize membrane proteins related to cell wall synthesis, transporting them to the hyphal tips. Endocytosis mediates protein internalization via target recognition by the adaptor protein 2 complex (AP-2 complex). The AP-2 complex specifically promotes the internalization of proteins important for hyphal growth, and loss of AP-2 complex function results in abnormal hyphal growth. In this study, deletion mutants of the genes encoding the subunits of the AP-2 complex (α, β2, μ2, or σ2) in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans resulted in the formation of conidiophores with abnormal morphology, fewer conidia, and activated the cell wall integrity pathway. We also investigated the localization of ChsB, which plays pivotal roles in hyphal growth in A. nidulans, in the Δμ2 strain. Quantitative analysis suggested that the AP-2 complex is involved in ChsB internalization at subapical collar regions. The absence of the AP-2 complex reduced ChsB localization at the hyphal tips. Our findings suggest that the AP-2 complex contributes to cell wall integrity by properly localizing ChsB to the hyphal tips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyun Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ryo Iwama
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan; Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Keiko Takagi
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Horiuchi
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan; Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
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Chelius C, Huso W, Reese S, Doan A, Lincoln S, Lawson K, Tran B, Purohit R, Glaros T, Srivastava R, Harris SD, Marten MR. Dynamic Transcriptomic and Phosphoproteomic Analysis During Cell Wall Stress in Aspergillus nidulans. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 19:1310-1329. [PMID: 32430394 PMCID: PMC8014999 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra119.001769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell-wall integrity signaling (CWIS) pathway regulates cellular response to environmental stress to enable wall repair and resumption of normal growth. This complex, interconnected, pathway has been only partially characterized in filamentous fungi. To better understand the dynamic cellular response to wall perturbation, a β-glucan synthase inhibitor (micafungin) was added to a growing A. nidulans shake-flask culture. From this flask, transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic data were acquired over 10 and 120 min, respectively. To differentiate statistically-significant dynamic behavior from noise, a multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model was applied to both data sets. Over 1800 genes were dynamically expressed and over 700 phosphorylation sites had changing phosphorylation levels upon micafungin exposure. Twelve kinases had altered phosphorylation and phenotypic profiling of all non-essential kinase deletion mutants revealed putative connections between PrkA, Hk-8-4, and Stk19 and the CWIS pathway. Our collective data implicate actin regulation, endocytosis, and septum formation as critical cellular processes responding to activation of the CWIS pathway, and connections between CWIS and calcium, HOG, and SIN signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Chelius
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Walker Huso
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Samantha Reese
- Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Alexander Doan
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen Lincoln
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kelsi Lawson
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bao Tran
- BioScience Mass Spectrometry Facility, The U.S. Army CCDC Chemical Biological Center, BioSciences Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
| | - Raj Purohit
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Trevor Glaros
- BioSciences Division, B11 Bioenergy and Biome Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Ranjan Srivastava
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Steven D Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Mark R Marten
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Athanasopoulos A, André B, Sophianopoulou V, Gournas C. Fungal plasma membrane domains. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 43:642-673. [PMID: 31504467 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuz022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The plasma membrane (PM) performs a plethora of physiological processes, the coordination of which requires spatial and temporal organization into specialized domains of different sizes, stability, protein/lipid composition and overall architecture. Compartmentalization of the PM has been particularly well studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where five non-overlapping domains have been described: The Membrane Compartments containing the arginine permease Can1 (MCC), the H+-ATPase Pma1 (MCP), the TORC2 kinase (MCT), the sterol transporters Ltc3/4 (MCL), and the cell wall stress mechanosensor Wsc1 (MCW). Additional cortical foci at the fungal PM are the sites where clathrin-dependent endocytosis occurs, the sites where the external pH sensing complex PAL/Rim localizes, and sterol-rich domains found in apically grown regions of fungal membranes. In this review, we summarize knowledge from several fungal species regarding the organization of the lateral PM segregation. We discuss the mechanisms of formation of these domains, and the mechanisms of partitioning of proteins there. Finally, we discuss the physiological roles of the best-known membrane compartments, including the regulation of membrane and cell wall homeostasis, apical growth of fungal cells and the newly emerging role of MCCs as starvation-protective membrane domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Athanasopoulos
- Microbial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos,' Patr. Grigoriou E & 27 Neapoleos St. 15341, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
| | - Bruno André
- Molecular Physiology of the Cell laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, rue des Pr Jeener et Brachet 12, 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Vicky Sophianopoulou
- Microbial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos,' Patr. Grigoriou E & 27 Neapoleos St. 15341, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
| | - Christos Gournas
- Microbial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos,' Patr. Grigoriou E & 27 Neapoleos St. 15341, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
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Chelius CL, Ribeiro LFC, Huso W, Kumar J, Lincoln S, Tran B, Goo YA, Srivastava R, Harris SD, Marten MR. Phosphoproteomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal multiple functions for Aspergillus nidulans MpkA independent of cell wall stress. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 125:1-12. [PMID: 30639305 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The protein kinase MpkA plays a prominent role in the cell wall integrity signaling (CWIS) pathway, acting as the terminal MAPK activating expression of genes which encode cell wall biosynthetic enzymes and other repair functions. Numerous studies focus on MpkA function during cell wall perturbation. Here, we focus on the role MpkA plays outside of cell wall stress, during steady state growth. In an effort to seek other, as yet unknown, connections to this pathway, an mpkA deletion mutant (ΔmpkA) was subjected to phosphoproteomic and transcriptomic analysis. When compared to the control (isogenic parent of ΔmpkA), there is strong evidence suggesting MpkA is involved with maintaining cell wall strength, branching regulation, and the iron starvation pathway, among others. Particle-size analysis during shake flask growth revealed ΔmpkA mycelia were about 4 times smaller than the control strain and more than 90 cell wall related genes show significantly altered expression levels. The deletion mutant had a significantly higher branching rate than the control and phosphoproteomic results show putative branching-regulation proteins, such as CotA, LagA, and Cdc24, have a significantly different level of phosphorylation. When grown in iron limited conditions, ΔmpkA had no difference in growth rate or production of siderophores, whereas the control strain showed decreased growth rate and increased siderophore production. Transcriptomic data revealed over 25 iron related genes with altered transcript levels. Results suggest MpkA is involved with regulation of broad cellular functions in the absence of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Chelius
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States
| | - Liliane F C Ribeiro
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States
| | - Walker Huso
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States
| | - Jyothi Kumar
- Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Stephen Lincoln
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Bao Tran
- Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Young Ah Goo
- Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Ranjan Srivastava
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Steven D Harris
- Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Mark R Marten
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States.
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7
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Yoshimi A, Miyazawa K, Abe K. Cell wall structure and biogenesis in Aspergillus species. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 80:1700-11. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1177446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aspergillus species are among the most important filamentous fungi from the viewpoints of industry, pathogenesis, and mycotoxin production. Fungal cells are exposed to a variety of environmental stimuli, including changes in osmolality, temperature, and pH, which create stresses that primarily act on fungal cell walls. In addition, fungal cell walls are the first interactions with host cells in either human or plants. Thus, understanding cell wall structure and the mechanism of their biogenesis is important for the industrial, medical, and agricultural fields. Here, we provide a systematic review of fungal cell wall structure and recent findings regarding the cell wall integrity signaling pathways in aspergilli. This accumulated knowledge will be useful for understanding and improving the use of industrial aspergilli fermentation processes as well as treatments for some fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshimi
- ABE-project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ken Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keietsu Abe
- ABE-project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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8
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A WDR Gene Is a Conserved Member of a Chitin Synthase Gene Cluster and Influences the Cell Wall in Aspergillus nidulans. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17071031. [PMID: 27367684 PMCID: PMC4964407 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17071031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
WD40 repeat (WDR) proteins are pleiotropic molecular hubs. We identify a WDR gene that is a conserved genomic neighbor of a chitin synthase gene in Ascomycetes. The WDR gene is unique to fungi and plants, and was called Fungal Plant WD (FPWD). FPWD is within a cell wall metabolism gene cluster in the Ascomycetes (Pezizomycotina) comprising chsD, a Chs activator and a GH17 glucanase. The FPWD, AN1556.2 locus was deleted in Aspergillus nidulans strain SAA.111 by gene replacement and only heterokaryon transformants were obtained. The re-annotation of Aspergilli genomes shows that AN1556.2 consists of two tightly linked separate genes, i.e., the WDR gene and a putative beta-flanking gene of unknown function. The WDR and the beta-flanking genes are conserved genomic neighbors localized within a recently identified metabolic cell wall gene cluster in genomes of Aspergilli. The heterokaryons displayed increased susceptibility to drugs affecting the cell wall, and their phenotypes, observed by optical, confocal, scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, suggest cell wall alterations. Quantitative real-time PCR shows altered expression of some cell wall-related genes. The possible implications on cell wall biosynthesis are discussed.
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9
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Jackson-Hayes L, Hill TW, Loprete DM, DelBove CE, Shapiro JA, Henley JL, Dawodu OO. Two amino acid sequences direct Aspergillus nidulans protein kinase C (PkcA) localization to hyphal apices and septation sites. Mycologia 2015; 107:452-9. [PMID: 25724996 DOI: 10.3852/14-217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Aspergillus nidulans ortholog of protein kinase C (pkcA) is involved in the organism's putative cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway, and PkcA also is highly localized at growing tips and forming septa. In the present work we identify the regions within PkcA that are responsible for its localization to hyphal tips and septation sites. To this end, we used serially truncated pkcA constructs and expressed them as green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimeras and identified two regions that direct PkcA localization. The first region is a 10 amino-acid sequence near the carboxyl end of the C2 domain that is required for localization to hyphal tips. Proteins containing this sequence also localize to septation sites. A second region between C2 and C1B (encompassing C1A) is sufficient for localization to septation sites but not to hyphal tips. We also report that localization to hyphal tips and septation sites alone is not sufficient for truncated constructs to complement hypersensitivity to the cell wall compromising agent calcofluor white in a strain bearing a mutation in the pkcA gene. Taken together, these results suggest that localization and stress response might be independent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Terry W Hill
- Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 38112
| | - Darlene M Loprete
- Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 38112
| | - Claire E DelBove
- Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 38112
| | - Justin A Shapiro
- Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 38112
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10
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Fiedler MR, Lorenz A, Nitsche BM, van den Hondel CA, Ram AF, Meyer V. The capacity of Aspergillus niger to sense and respond to cell wall stress requires at least three transcription factors: RlmA, MsnA and CrzA. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2014; 1:5. [PMID: 28955447 PMCID: PMC5598236 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-014-0005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cell wall integrity, vesicle transport and protein secretion are key factors contributing to the vitality and productivity of filamentous fungal cell factories such as Aspergillus niger. In order to pioneer rational strain improvement programs, fundamental knowledge on the genetic basis of these processes is required. The aim of the present study was thus to unravel survival strategies of A. niger when challenged with compounds interfering directly or indirectly with its cell wall integrity: calcofluor white, caspofungin, aureobasidin A, FK506 and fenpropimorph. Results Transcriptomics signatures of A. niger and phenotypic analyses of selected null mutant strains were used to predict regulator proteins mediating the survival responses against these stressors. This integrated approach allowed us to reconstruct a model for the cell wall salvage gene network of A. niger that ensures survival of the fungus upon cell surface stress. The model predicts that (i) caspofungin and aureobasidin A induce the cell wall integrity pathway as a main compensatory response via induction of RhoB and RhoD, respectively, eventually activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MkkA and the transcription factor RlmA. (ii) RlmA is the main transcription factor required for the protection against calcofluor white but it cooperates with MsnA and CrzA to ensure survival of A. niger when challenged with caspofungin and aureobasidin A. (iii) Membrane stress provoked by aureobasidin A via disturbance of sphingolipid synthesis induces cell wall stress, whereas fenpropimorph-induced disturbance of ergosterol synthesis does not. Conclusion The present work uncovered a sophisticated defence system of A. niger which employs at least three transcription factors - RlmA, MsnA and CrzA – to protect itself against cell wall stress. The transcriptomic data furthermore predicts a fourth transfactor, SrbA, which seems to be specifically important to survive fenpropimorph-induced cell membrane stress. Future studies will disclose how these regulators are interlocked in different signaling pathways to secure survival of A. niger under different cell wall stress conditions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40694-014-0005-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Rm Fiedler
- Institute of Biotechnology, Department Applied and Molecular Microbiology Berlin University of Technology, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, Berlin, D-13355 Germany
| | - Annett Lorenz
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden, 2333 BE The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin M Nitsche
- Institute of Biotechnology, Department Applied and Molecular Microbiology Berlin University of Technology, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, Berlin, D-13355 Germany.,Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden, 2333 BE The Netherlands
| | | | - Arthur Fj Ram
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden, 2333 BE The Netherlands.,Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation, Delft, 2600 GA The Netherlands
| | - Vera Meyer
- Institute of Biotechnology, Department Applied and Molecular Microbiology Berlin University of Technology, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, Berlin, D-13355 Germany.,Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden, 2333 BE The Netherlands.,Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation, Delft, 2600 GA The Netherlands
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11
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Malavazi I, Goldman GH, Brown NA. The importance of connections between the cell wall integrity pathway and the unfolded protein response in filamentous fungi. Brief Funct Genomics 2014; 13:456-70. [PMID: 25060881 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elu027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the external environment, or within a host organism, filamentous fungi experience sudden changes in nutrient availability, osmolality, pH, temperature and the exposure to toxic compounds. The fungal cell wall represents the first line of defense, while also performing essential roles in morphology, development and virulence. A polarized secretion system is paramount for cell wall biosynthesis, filamentous growth, nutrient acquisition and interactions with the environment. The unique ability of filamentous fungi to secrete has resulted in their industrial adoption as fungal cell factories. Protein maturation and secretion commences in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The unfolded protein response (UPR) maintains ER functionality during exposure to secretion and cell wall stress. UPR, therefore, influences secretion and cell wall homeostasis, which in turn impacts upon numerous fungal traits important to pathogenesis and biotechnology. Subsequently, this review describes the relevance of the cell wall and UPR systems to filamentous fungal pathogens or industrial microbes and then highlights interconnections between the two systems. Ultimately, the possible biotechnological applications of an enhanced understanding of such regulatory systems in combating fungal disease, or the removal of natural bottlenecks in protein secretion in an industrial setting, are discussed.
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12
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Fu C, Tanaka A, Free SJ. Neurospora crassa 1,3-α-glucan synthase, AGS-1, is required for cell wall biosynthesis during macroconidia development. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 160:1618-1627. [PMID: 24847001 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.080002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Neurospora crassa genome encodes two 1,3-α-glucan synthases. One of these 1,3-α-glucan synthase genes, ags-1, was shown to be required for the synthesis of 1,3-α-glucan in the aerial hyphae and macroconidia cell walls. 1,3-α-Glucan was found in the conidia cell wall, but was absent from the vegetative hyphae cell wall. Deletion of ags-1 affected conidial development. Δags-1 produced only 5 % as many conidia as the WT and most of the conidia produced by Δags-1 were not viable. The ags-1 upstream regulatory elements were shown to direct cell-type-specific expression of red fluorescent protein in conidia and aerial hyphae. A haemagglutinin-tagged AGS-1 was found to be expressed in aerial hyphae and conidia. The research showed that 1,3-α-glucan is an aerial hyphae and conidia cell wall component, and is required for normal conidial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ci Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Asuma Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Stephen J Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of wangiella dermatitidis, a major cause of phaeohyphomycosis and a model black yeast human pathogen. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2014; 4:561-78. [PMID: 24496724 PMCID: PMC4059230 DOI: 10.1534/g3.113.009241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Black or dark brown (phaeoid) fungi cause cutaneous, subcutaneous, and systemic infections in humans. Black fungi thrive in stressful conditions such as intense light, high radiation, and very low pH. Wangiella (Exophiala) dermatitidis is arguably the most studied phaeoid fungal pathogen of humans. Here, we report our comparative analysis of the genome of W. dermatitidis and the transcriptional response to low pH stress. This revealed that W. dermatitidis has lost the ability to synthesize alpha-glucan, a cell wall compound many pathogenic fungi use to evade the host immune system. In contrast, W. dermatitidis contains a similar profile of chitin synthase genes as related fungi and strongly induces genes involved in cell wall synthesis in response to pH stress. The large portfolio of transporters may provide W. dermatitidis with an enhanced ability to remove harmful products as well as to survive on diverse nutrient sources. The genome encodes three independent pathways for producing melanin, an ability linked to pathogenesis; these are active during pH stress, potentially to produce a barrier to accumulated oxidative damage that might occur under stress conditions. In addition, a full set of fungal light-sensing genes is present, including as part of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster. Finally, we identify a two-gene cluster involved in nucleotide sugar metabolism conserved with a subset of fungi and characterize a horizontal transfer event of this cluster between fungi and algal viruses. This work reveals how W. dermatitidis has adapted to stress and survives in diverse environments, including during human infections.
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14
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Guerriero G, Silvestrini L, Obersriebnig M, Salerno M, Pum D, Strauss J. Sensitivity of Aspergillus nidulans to the cellulose synthase inhibitor dichlobenil: insights from wall-related genes' expression and ultrastructural hyphal morphologies. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80038. [PMID: 24312197 PMCID: PMC3843659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall constitutes an important target for the development of antifungal drugs, because of its central role in morphogenesis, development and determination of fungal-specific molecular features. Fungal walls are characterized by a network of interconnected glycoproteins and polysaccharides, namely α-, β-glucans and chitin. Cell walls promptly and dynamically respond to environmental stimuli by a signaling mechanism, which triggers, among other responses, modulations in wall biosynthetic genes’ expression. Despite the absence of cellulose in the wall of the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, we found in this study that fungal growth, spore germination and morphology are affected by the addition of the cellulose synthase inhibitor dichlobenil. Expression analysis of selected genes putatively involved in cell wall biosynthesis, carried out at different time points of drug exposure (i.e. 0, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h), revealed increased expression for the putative mixed linkage β-1,3;1,4 glucan synthase celA together with the β-1,3-glucan synthase fksA and the Rho-related GTPase rhoA. We also compared these data with the response to Congo Red, a known plant/fungal drug affecting both chitin and cellulose biosynthesis. The two drugs exerted different effects at the cell wall level, as shown by gene expression analysis and the ultrastructural features observed through atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Although the concentration of dichlobenil required to affect growth of A. nidulans is approximately 10-fold higher than that required to inhibit plant cellulose biosynthesis, our work for the first time demonstrates that a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor affects fungal growth, changes fungal morphology and expression of genes connected to fungal cell wall biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea Guerriero
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Fungal Genetics and Genomics Unit, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), University and Research Center Campus Tulln-Technopol, Tulln/Donau, Austria
- * E-mail: (GG); (JS)
| | - Lucia Silvestrini
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Fungal Genetics and Genomics Unit, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), University and Research Center Campus Tulln-Technopol, Tulln/Donau, Austria
| | - Michael Obersriebnig
- Institute of Wood Science and Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), University and Research Center Campus Tulln-Technopol, Tulln/Donau, Austria
| | - Marco Salerno
- Nanophysics Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Dietmar Pum
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Fungal Genetics and Genomics Unit, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), University and Research Center Campus Tulln-Technopol, Tulln/Donau, Austria
- Health and Environment Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH - AIT, University and Research Center Campus Tulln-Technopol, Tulln/Donau, Austria
- * E-mail: (GG); (JS)
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Hartmann DO, Silva Pereira C. A molecular analysis of the toxicity of alkyltributylphosphonium chlorides in Aspergillus nidulans. NEW J CHEM 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3nj00167a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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