Proteome analysis of the farnesol-induced stress response in Aspergillus nidulans--The role of a putative dehydrin.
The isoprenoid alcohol farnesol represents a quorum-sensing molecule in pathogenic yeasts, but was also shown to inhibit the growth of many filamentous fungi. In order to gain a deeper insight into the antifungal activity of farnesol, we performed 2D-differential gel electrophoretic analysis (2D-DIGE) of Aspergillus nidulans exposed to farnesol. We observed an increased abundance of antioxidative enzymes and proteins involved in protein folding and the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. A striking finding was the strong up-regulation of a dehydrin-like protein (DlpA). Expression analyses suggested the involvement of DlpA in the cellular response to oxidative, osmotic and cold stress. In line with these data, we demonstrated that dlpA expression was regulated by the MAP kinase SakA/HogA. The generation of both a dlpA Tet(on) antisense RNA-producing A. nidulans strain (dlpA-inv) and a ΔdlpA deletion mutant indicated a role of DlpA in conidiation and stress resistance of dormant conidia against heat and ROS. Furthermore, the production of the secondary metabolite sterigmatocystin was absent in both strains dlpA-inv and ΔdlpA. Our results demonstrate the complexity of the farnesol-mediated stress response in A. nidulans and describe a farnesol-inducible dehydrin-like protein that contributes to the high tolerance of resting conidia against oxidative and heat stress.
Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Dirk
D
Wartenberg
Martin
M
Vödisch
Olaf
O
Kniemeyer
Daniela
D
Albrecht-Eckardt
Kirstin
K
Scherlach
Robert
R
Winkler
Mirko
M
Weide
Axel A
AA
Brakhage
D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D017038:Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D059748:Proteolysis; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013241:Sterigmatocystin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D057825:Two-Dimensional Difference Gel Electrophoresis; D056811:Unfolded Protein Response / Q000187:drug effects
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D013241:Sterigmatocystin; D005204:Farnesol; D017038:Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase