title: Role of the Talaromyces marneffei (Penicillium marneffei) sakA gene in nitrosative stress response, conidiation and red pigment production.
abstract: Stress-activated MAPK pathways are systems used to regulate the stress adaptation of most fungi. It has been shown that in Talaromyces marneffei (Penicillium marneffei), a pathogenic dimorphic fungus, the sakA gene is involved, not only in tolerance against oxidative and heat stresses, but also in playing a role in asexual development, yeast cell generation in vitro and survival inside macrophage cell lines. In this study, the role of the T. marneffei sakA gene on the nitrosative stress response and the regulation of gene expression were investigated. The susceptibility of the sakA mutant to NaNO2 was investigated using drop dilution assay and the expression of genes of interest were determined by RT-PCR, comparing them to the wild-type and complemented strains. The results demonstrated that the T. marneffei sakA gene played a role in the stress response to NaNO2, the expression of genes functioning in conidial development (brlA, abaA and wetA) and red pigment biosynthesis (pks3, rp1, rp2 and rp3). These findings suggest that T. marneffei sakA is broadly involved in a wide variety of cell activities, including stress response, cell morphogenesis, asexual development and pigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand.
authors.forename: Panjaphorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nimmanee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Emily W T
authors.initials: EWT
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Patrick C Y
authors.initials: PCY
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pramote
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanittanakom
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nongnuch
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanittanakom
mesh_terms: D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D009154:Mutation; D000073039:Nitrosative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D032901:Talaromyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D012977:Sodium Nitrite
keywords: asexual development; nitrosative stress; red pigment biosynthesis; sakA; stress response