title: Impact of Protein Palmitoylation on the Virulence Potential of Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: The localization and specialized function of Ras-like proteins are largely determined by posttranslational processing events. In a highly regulated process, palmitoyl groups may be added to C-terminal cysteine residues, targeting these proteins to specific membranes. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, Ras1 protein palmitoylation is essential for growth at high temperature but is dispensable for sexual differentiation. Ras1 palmitoylation is also required for localization of this protein on the plasma membrane. Together, these results support a model in which specific Ras functions are mediated from different subcellular locations. We therefore hypothesize that proteins that activate Ras1 or mediate Ras1 localization to the plasma membrane will be important for C. neoformans pathogenesis. To further characterize the Ras1 signaling cascade mediating high-temperature growth, we have identified a family of protein S-acyltransferases (PATs), enzymes that mediate palmitoylation, in the C. neoformans genome database. Deletion strains for each candidate gene were generated by homogenous recombination, and each mutant strain was assessed for Ras1-mediated phenotypes, including high-temperature growth, morphogenesis, and sexual development. We found that full Ras1 palmitoylation and function required one particular PAT, Pfa4, and deletion of the PFA4 gene in C. neoformans resulted in altered Ras1 localization to membranes, impaired growth at 37°C, and reduced virulence.
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Connie B
authors: CB
authors: Nichols
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Kyla S
authors: KS
authors: Ost
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Dayton P
authors: DP
authors: Grogan
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Kaila
authors: K
authors: Pianalto
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Shirin
authors: S
authors: Hasan
authors: Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics/Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA andrew.alspaugh@duke.edu.
authors: J Andrew
authors: JA
authors: Alspaugh
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D059765:Homologous Recombination; D006801:Humans; D054878:Lipoylation; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014774:Virulence; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D018631:ras Proteins