Work

A Novel Role of Fungal Type I Myosin in Regulating Membrane Properties and Its Association with d -Amino Acid Utilization in Cryptococcus gattii

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Cryptococcus gattii , one of the etiological agents of cryptococcosis, can be distinguished from its sister species Cryptococcus neoformans by growth on d -amino acids. C. gattii MYO5 affected the growth of C. gattii on d -amino acids. The myo5Δ cells accumulated high levels of various substrates from outside the cells, and excessively accumulated d -amino acids appeared to have caused toxicity in the myo5Δ cells. We provide evidence on the alteration of membrane properties in the myo5Δ mutants. Additionally, alteration in the myo5Δ membrane permeability causing higher substrate accumulation is associated with the changes in the sterol distribution. Furthermore, myosin-I in three other yeasts also manifested a similar role in substrate accumulation. Thus, while fungal myosin-I may function as a classical myosin-I, it has hitherto unknown additional roles in regulating membrane permeability. Since deletion of fungal myosin-I causes significantly elevated susceptibility to multiple antifungal drugs, it could serve as an effective target for augmentation of fungal therapy.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01867-19

Authors: Ami Khanal Lamichhane, H. Martin Garraffo, Hongyi Cai, Peter J. Walter, Kyung J. Kwon-Chung, Yun C. Chang

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Language: English

Topic: Fungal Infections and Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900