title: Molecular characterization of the Aspergillus fumigatus NCS-1 homologue, NcsA.
abstract: Here, we characterize the Aspergillus fumigatus homologue ncsA Neuronal Calcium Sensor. We showed that ncsA is not an essential gene and ncsA growth was decreased in the presence of EGTA and SDS. Furthermore, the ncsA mutant is more resistant to calcium chloride. NcsA:mRFP localizes to the cytoplasm and its cellular localization is not affected by the cellular response to either calcium chloride or EGTA. The ncsA mutant strain is more sensitive to voriconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin. Polar growth in the DeltancsA mutant was also considerably more affected by lovastatin than in the wild type strain. The Spitzenkörper can be visualized in both strains and although the vacuolar system does not seem to be very different, there is an increase in the staining intensity on the germling surface of the ncsA strain. NcsA promotes pmcA and pmcB expression and therefore there is a reduced expression of these ion pumps in the DeltancsA mutant background, and also of other genes involved in the response to calcium in A. fumigatus. The ncsA inactivation mutation is not causing loss of virulence in a low dose murine infection when compared to the corresponding wild type strain.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Oliveira
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Mota Júnior
authors.forename: Iran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malavazi
authors.forename: Frederico Marianetti
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Soriani
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinekamp
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brakhage
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savoldi
authors.forename: Maria Helena S
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Márcia Eliana
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: da Silva Ferreira
authors.forename: Gustavo Henrique
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D008148:Lovastatin; D002118:Calcium; D004875:Ergosterol