title: Cell wall integrity is dependent on the PKC1 signal transduction pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: Cell wall biogenesis and integrity are crucial for fungal growth, pathogenesis and survival, and are attractive targets for antifungal therapy. In this study, we identify, delete and analyse mutant strains for 10 genes involved in the PKC1 signal transduction pathway and its regulation in Cryptococcus neoformans. The kinases Bck1 and Mkk2 are critical for maintaining integrity, and deletion of each of these causes severe phenotypes different from each other. In stark contrast to results seen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a deletion in LRG1 has severe repercussions for the cell, and one in ROM2 has little effect. Also surprisingly, the phosphatase Ppg1 is crucial for cell integrity. These data indicate that the mechanisms of maintaining cell integrity differ between the two fungi. Deletions in SSD1 and PUF4, potential alternative regulators of cell integrity, also exhibit phenotypes. This is the first comprehensive analysis examining genes involved the maintenance of cell integrity in C. neoformans and sets the foundation for future biochemical and virulence studies.
authors.affiliation: Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S Grand Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gerik
authors.forename: Maureen J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Donlin
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Isaac R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Marybeth A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maligie
authors.forename: Claude P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Selitrennikoff
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lodge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000378:metabolism; D000077336:Caspofungin; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054714:Echinocandins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014343:Trypan Blue / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008543:Melanins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C007061:C.I. Fluorescent Brightening Agent 28; C490702:PKC1 protein, S cerevisiae; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000077336:Caspofungin; D014343:Trypan Blue