title: Transcriptome analysis and molecular studies on sulfur metabolism in the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
abstract: The dimorphic pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis can grow as a prototroph for organic sulfur as a mycelial (non-pathogenic) form, but it is unable to assimilate inorganic sulfur as a yeast (pathogenic) form. Temperature and the inability to assimilate inorganic sulfur are the single conditions known to affect P. brasiliensis mycelium-to-yeast (M-Y) dimorphic transition. For a comprehensive evaluation of genes that have their expression modulated during the M-Y transition in different culture media, we performed a large-scale analysis of gene expression using a microarray hybridization approach. The results of the present work demonstrate the use of microarray hybridization analysis to examine gene expression during the M-Y transition in minimal medium and compare these results with the M-Y transition in complete medium. Our results showed that about 95% of the genes in our microarray are mainly responding to the temperature trigger, independently of the media where the M-Y transition took place. As a preliminary step to understand the inorganic sulfur inability in P. brasiliensis yeast form, we decided to characterize the mRNA accumulation of several genes involved in different aspects of both organic and inorganic sulfur assimilation. Our results suggest that although P. brasiliensis cannot use inorganic sulfur as a single sulfur source to initiate both M-Y transition and Y growth, the fungus can somehow use both organic and inorganic pathways during these growth processes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café S/N, CEP 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Eliana da Silva
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Everaldo dos Reis
authors.initials: Edos R
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Iran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malavazi
authors.forename: Isaura
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Luiz R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Regina C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Helena S
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Gustavo H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000235:genetics*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur