title: Formulation of a defined V8 medium for induction of sexual development of Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: For over 3 decades, sexual development in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and other fungi has been initiated by growing compatible mating partners on V8 juice medium. Although this medium is an efficient inducer of sexual development, the mechanism by which it promotes the process is unknown. To understand how V8 juice medium induces sexual development, we attempted to purify inducing factors from V8 juice, and we carried out a complete compositional analysis of V8 juice. We discovered that no single factor is responsible for the effects of V8 juice medium. Rather, the unique composition of V8 juice medium provides the proper nutrient composition for inducing and sustaining complete sexual development. Utilizing these findings, we developed a defined V8 (DV8) medium that mimics V8 juice medium in sexual development assays. Then, using DV8 as a tool, we explored the roles that specific molecules play in enhancing sexual development. Surprisingly, we discovered that copper is a key factor, leading to an upregulation of the mating pheromone genes MFa and MFalpha, both required for the initial steps in sexual development. The utilization of DV8 to investigate the effects of copper on sexual development presented here is an example of how defining the conditions that induce sexual development will advance the study of C. neoformans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Cory R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Bermúdez
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hull
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000072235:Mating Factor; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010455:Peptides; D000072235:Mating Factor; D003300:Copper
references.citation: Mycologia. 1976 Jul-Aug;68(4):821-33
references.pmid: 790172
references.citation: Yeast. 2004 Aug;21(11):919-26
references.pmid: 15334556
references.citation: Mycologia. 1975 Nov-Dec;67(6):1197-200
references.pmid: 765816
references.citation: Genetics. 2002 Mar;160(3):935-47
references.pmid: 11901112
references.citation: Front Biosci. 1997 Nov 01;2:e99-107
references.pmid: 9342305
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 1990 Jul;28(7):1642-4
references.pmid: 2199524
references.citation: Biometals. 2003 Mar;16(1):185-97
references.pmid: 12572678
references.citation: Eukaryot Cell. 2007 Jun;6(6):949-59
references.pmid: 17449657
references.citation: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Mar;73(5):1433-43
references.pmid: 17194837
references.citation: Trans N Y Acad Sci. 1958 May;20(7):623-48
references.pmid: 13556861
references.citation: J Bacteriol. 1976 Oct;128(1):445-55
references.pmid: 789347
references.citation: Lancet. 1990 Oct 13;336(8720):923-5
references.pmid: 1976940
references.citation: J Clin Invest. 2007 Mar;117(3):794-802
references.pmid: 17290306
references.citation: J Exp Med. 1996 Aug 1;184(2):377-86
references.pmid: 8760791
references.citation: Plant Cell. 2000 Feb;12(2):237-48
references.pmid: 10662860
references.citation: Eukaryot Cell. 2005 Mar;4(3):526-35
references.pmid: 15755915
references.citation: Genetics. 1992 Sep;132(1):149-62
references.pmid: 1356883
references.citation: Contrib Microbiol. 2000;5:217-38
references.pmid: 10863675
references.citation: Genes Dev. 2002 Dec 1;16(23):3046-60
references.pmid: 12464634
references.citation: Infect Immun. 1997 Feb;65(2):488-94
references.pmid: 9009302
references.citation: Annu Rev Genet. 2002;36:557-615
references.pmid: 12429703
references.citation: Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 Apr;53(4):627-32
references.pmid: 16347310
references.citation: Genes Dev. 1991 Nov;5(11):1990-9
references.pmid: 1657709
references.citation: FEMS Yeast Res. 2004 Mar;4(6):605-7
references.pmid: 15040948
references.citation: Eukaryot Cell. 2002 Jun;1(3):366-77
references.pmid: 12455985
references.citation: Sabouraudia. 1968 Jun;6(3):213-7
references.pmid: 5679667
references.citation: Methods Enzymol. 1991;194:3-21
references.pmid: 2005794
references.citation: Infect Immun. 1992 Feb;60(2):602-5
references.pmid: 1730495
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Jul 9;93(14):7327-31
references.pmid: 8692992