title: The temperature-sensitive role of Cryptococcus neoformans ROM2 in cell morphogenesis.
abstract: ROM2 is associated with Cryptococcus neoformans virulence. We examined additional roles of ROM2 in C. neoformans and found that ROM2 plays a role in several cell functions specifically at high temperature conditions. Morphologically rom2 mutant cells demonstrated a "tear"-like shape and clustered together. A sub-population of cells had a hyperelongated phenotype at restrictive growth conditions. Altered morphology was associated with defects in actin that was concentrated at the cell periphery and with abnormalities in microtubule organization. Interestingly, the ROM2 associated defects in cell morphology, location of nuclei, and actin and microtubule organization were not observed in cells grown at temperatures below 37 degrees C. These results indicate that in C. neoformans, ROM2 is important at restrictive temperature conditions and is involved in several cell maintenance functions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Beth Burgwyn
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mylonakis
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000502:physiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005656:Fungal Proteins