title: Influence of N-glycans on Expression of Cell Wall Remodeling Related Genes in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Yeast Cells.
abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. It is caused by the temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The P. brasiliensis cell wall is a dynamic outer structure, composed of a network of glycoproteins and polysaccharides, such as chitin, glucan and N-glycosylated proteins. These glycoproteins can interact with the host to affect infection rates, and are known to perform other functions. We inhibited N-linked glycosylation using tunicamycin (TM), and then evaluated the expression of P. brasiliensis genes related to cell wall remodeling. Our results suggest that cell wall synthesis related genes, such as β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase (PbGEL3), 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase (PbFKS1), and α-1,4-amylase (PbAMY), as well as cell wall degrading related genes, such as N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (PbNAG1), α-1,3-glucanase (PbAGN), and β-1,3-glucanase (PbBGN1 and PbBGN2), have their expression increased by the N-glycosylation inhibition, as detected by qRT-PCR. The observed increases in gene expression levels reveal possible compensatory mechanisms for diminished enzyme activity due to the lack of glycosylation caused by TM.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: Amanda Cristina Campos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Antoniêto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: André Moreira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pessoni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadural de Goiás, UnUCET, BR 153, Km98. Campus Henrique Santillo, Anapolis, GO 75000-000, Brazil;
authors.forename: Valdirene Neves
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Paiva
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Alegre-Maller
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laurine Lacerda
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pigosso
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maristela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Célia Maria de Almeida
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roque-Barreira
keywords: Cell wall; Fungal cell.; N-glycan; Paracoccidioides brasiliensis