title: Proteome profiling and functional classification of intracellular proteins from conidia of the human-pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitously distributed filamentous fungus that has emerged as one of the most serious life-threatening pathogens in immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms for its pathogenicity are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the proteome of dormant A. fumigatus conidia as the fungal entity having the initial contact with the host. Applying two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), we established a 2-D reference map of conidial proteins. By MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, we identified a total number of 449 different proteins. We show that 57 proteins of our map are over-represented in resting conidia compared to mycelium. Enzymes involved in reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) detoxification, pigment biosynthesis, and conidial rodlet layer formation were highly abundant in A. fumigatus spores and most probably account for their enormous stress resistance. Interestingly, pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase were detectable in dormant conidia, suggesting that alcoholic fermentation plays a role during dormancy or early germination. Moreover, we show that enzymes for rapid reactivation of protein biosynthesis and metabolic processes are preserved in resting conidia, which therefore feature the potential to immediately respond to an environmental stimulus by germination. The generated data lay the foundations for further proteomic analyses and a better understanding of fungal pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Janka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teutschbein
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pötsch
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guthke
authors.forename: Vishukumar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aimanianda
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clavaud
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Latgé
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brakhage
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kniemeyer
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D030562:Databases, Protein; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015233:Models, Statistical; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry; D040901:Proteomics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins