Transcription factor PrtT controls expression of multiple secreted proteases in the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
The role of secreted proteases in the virulence of the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus remains controversial. Recently, the Aspergillus niger transcription factor PrtT was shown to control the expression of multiple secreted proteases. In this work, the gene which encodes the PrtT homolog in A. fumigatus was cloned and its function analyzed using a deletion mutant strain. Deletion of A. fumigatus prtT resulted in the loss of secreted protease activity. The expression of six secreted proteases (ALP, MEP, Dpp4, CpdS, AFUA_2G17330, and AFUA_7G06220) was markedly reduced. Culture filtrates from the prtT deletion strain exhibited reduced killing of lung epithelial cells and lysis of erythrocytes. However, the prtT deletion strain did not exhibit altered virulence in lung-infected mice. These results suggest that PrtT is not a significant virulence factor in A. fumigatus.
Sharon
Haim
H
Department of Human Microbiology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv 69978, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Hagag
Shelly
S
Osherov
Nir
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases