Posters: Analysis of sterol regulation in the Saccharomycotina.
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Many fungal pathogens grow on superficial and in internal sites in infected hosts, regions that have considerably different oxygen levels. A better understanding of the influence of hypoxia (low oxygen) on virulence and pathogenesis may lead to improved treatments against systemic fungal infections. Hypoxia induces filamentation of Candida albicans, which is associated with virulence. However other pathogenic Candida species do not grow as filaments, and presumably respond to hypoxia in different ways. In many fungal species (including the Saccharomyces and Candida clades) the transcription factor Upc2 plays a major role in regulating expression of the sterol pathway, particularly in low oxygen conditions. In other fungi, such as fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the human pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans, expression of sterol genes is regulated by SREBP (Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein). SREPB is an ancient regulator that is conserved in mammals (including humans). The genome of Yarrowia lipolytica, an out-group of Saccharomyces and Candida clade species, contains homologues of both Upc2 and SREBP. By carrying out gene deletions in this species, we have shown that the appearance of Upc2 coincides with the acquisition of sterol pathway regulation. Our results also suggest that the remnants of the SREBP proteins regulate morphology and filamentous growth.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W214198997