scholarly journals Cell Signals, Cell Contacts, and the Organization of Yeast Communities

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul M. Honigberg
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Community Organization ◽  
Strain Variation ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Fundamental Properties ◽  
Adhesin Proteins ◽  
Fungal Kingdom

ABSTRACT Even relatively simple species have evolved mechanisms to organize individual organisms into communities, such that the fitness of the group is greater than the fitness of isolated individuals. Within the fungal kingdom, the ability of many yeast species to organize into communities is crucial for their growth and survival, and this property has important impacts both on the economy and on human health. Over the last few years, studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have revealed several fundamental properties of yeast communities. First, strain-to-strain variation in the structures of these groups is attributable in part to variability in the expression and functions of adhesin proteins. Second, the extracellular matrix surrounding these communities can protect them from environmental stress and may also be important in cell signaling. Finally, diffusible signals between cells contribute to community organization so that different regions of a community express different genes and adopt different cell fates. These findings provide an arena in which to view fundamental mechanisms by which contacts and signals between individual organisms allow them to assemble into functional communities.

scholarly journals Method-Dependent Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Detection of Triazole Resistance in Candida and Aspergillus Species for the Sensititre YeastOne Colorimetric Broth and Etest Agar Diffusion Methods

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Espinel-Ingroff ◽  
J. Turnidge ◽  
A. Alastruey-Izquierdo ◽  
F. Botterel ◽  
E. Canton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Pichia Kudriavzevii ◽  
Cutoff Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clavispora Lusitaniae

ABSTRACT Although the Sensititre Yeast-One (SYO) and Etest methods are widely utilized, interpretive criteria are not available for triazole susceptibility testing of Candida or Aspergillus species. We collected fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole SYO and Etest MICs from 39 laboratories representing all continents for (method/agent-dependent) 11,171 Candida albicans, 215 C. dubliniensis, 4,418 C. glabrata species complex, 157 C. guilliermondii (Meyerozyma guilliermondii), 676 C. krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii), 298 C. lusitaniae (Clavispora lusitaniae), 911 C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 3,691 C. parapsilosis species complex, 36 C. metapsilosis, 110 C. orthopsilosis, 1,854 C. tropicalis, 244 Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 1,409 Aspergillus fumigatus, 389 A. flavus, 130 A. nidulans, 233 A. niger, and 302 A. terreus complex isolates. SYO/Etest MICs for 282 confirmed non-wild-type (non-WT) isolates were included: ERG11 (C. albicans), ERG11 and MRR1 (C. parapsilosis), cyp51A (A. fumigatus), and CDR2 and CDR1 overexpression (C. albicans and C. glabrata, respectively). Interlaboratory modal agreement was superior by SYO for yeast species and by the Etest for Aspergillus spp. Distributions fulfilling CLSI criteria for epidemiological cutoff value (ECV) definition were pooled, and we proposed SYO ECVs for S. cerevisiae and 9 yeast and 3 Aspergillus species and Etest ECVs for 5 yeast and 4 Aspergillus species. The posaconazole SYO ECV of 0.06 µg/ml for C. albicans and the Etest itraconazole ECV of 2 µg/ml for A. fumigatus were the best predictors of non-WT isolates. These findings support the need for method-dependent ECVs, as, overall, the SYO appears to perform better for susceptibility testing of yeast species and the Etest appears to perform better for susceptibility testing of Aspergillus spp. Further evaluations should be conducted with more Candida mutants.

scholarly journals Nanoscale Effects of Caspofungin against Two Yeast Species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 3498-3506 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Formosa ◽  
M. Schiavone ◽  
H. Martin-Yken ◽  
J. M. François ◽  
R. E. Duval ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Young Modulus ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Molecular Organization ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Doses

ABSTRACTSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandCandida albicansare model yeasts for biotechnology and human health, respectively. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to explore the effects of caspofungin, an antifungal drug used in hospitals, on these two species. Our nanoscale investigation revealed similar, but also different, behaviors of the two yeasts in response to treatment with the drug. While administration of caspofungin induced deep cell wall remodeling in both yeast species, as evidenced by a dramatic increase in chitin and decrease in β-glucan content, changes in cell wall composition were more pronounced withC. albicanscells. Notably, the increase of chitin was proportional to the increase in the caspofungin dose. In addition, the Young modulus of the cell was three times lower forC. albicanscells than forS. cerevisiaecells and increased proportionally with the increase of chitin, suggesting differences in the molecular organization of the cell wall between the two yeast species. Also, at a low dose of caspofungin (i.e., 0.5× MIC), the cell surface ofC. albicansexhibited a morphology that was reminiscent of cells expressing adhesion proteins. Interestingly, this morphology was lost at high doses of the drug (i.e., 4× MIC). However, the treatment ofS. cerevisiaecells with high doses of caspofungin resulted in impairment of cytokinesis. Altogether, the use of AFM for investigating the effects of antifungal drugs is relevant in nanomedicine, as it should help in understanding their mechanisms of action on fungal cells, as well as unraveling unexpected effects on cell division and fungal adhesion.

scholarly journals Posttranslational Modifications of Proteins in the Pathobiology of Medically Relevant Fungi

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle D. Leach ◽  
Alistair J. P. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Peptide Modifications ◽  
Fungal Kingdom

ABSTRACTPosttranslational modifications of proteins drive a wide variety of cellular processes in eukaryotes, regulating cell growth and division as well as adaptive and developmental processes. With regard to the fungal kingdom, most information about posttranslational modifications has been generated through studies of the model yeastsSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandSchizosaccharomyces pombe, where, for example, the roles of protein phosphorylation, glycosylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and neddylation have been dissected. More recently, information has begun to emerge for the medically important fungal pathogensCandida albicans,Aspergillus fumigatus, andCryptococcus neoformans, highlighting the relevance of posttranslational modifications for virulence. We review the available literature on protein modifications in fungal pathogens, focusing in particular upon the reversible peptide modifications sumoylation, ubiquitination, and neddylation.

scholarly journals Regulation of Amino Acid Transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans Bianchi ◽  
Joury S. van’t Klooster ◽  
Stephanie J. Ruiz ◽  
Bert Poolman
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Amino Acid Homeostasis ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Amino Acid Sensing

SUMMARY We review the mechanisms responsible for amino acid homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi. Amino acid homeostasis is essential for cell growth and survival. Hence, the de novo synthesis reactions, metabolic conversions, and transport of amino acids are tightly regulated. Regulation varies from nitrogen pool sensing to control by individual amino acids and takes place at the gene (transcription), protein (posttranslational modification and allostery), and vesicle (trafficking and endocytosis) levels. The pools of amino acids are controlled via import, export, and compartmentalization. In yeast, the majority of the amino acid transporters belong to the APC (amino acid-polyamine-organocation) superfamily, and the proteins couple the uphill transport of amino acids to the electrochemical proton gradient. Although high-resolution structures of yeast amino acid transporters are not available, homology models have been successfully exploited to determine and engineer the catalytic and regulatory functions of the proteins. This has led to a further understanding of the underlying mechanisms of amino acid sensing and subsequent downregulation of transport. Advances in optical microscopy have revealed a new level of regulation of yeast amino acid transporters, which involves membrane domain partitioning. The significance and the interrelationships of the latest discoveries on amino acid homeostasis are put in context.

scholarly journals Molecular Basis for Strain Variation in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Adhesin Flo11p

mSphere ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subit Barua ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Peter N. Lipke ◽  
Anne M. Dranginis
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Strain Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Important Means ◽  
Domain Peptide

ABSTRACT As a nonmotile organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae employs the cell surface flocculin Flo11/Muc1 as an important means of adapting to environmental change. However, there is a great deal of strain variation in the expression of Flo11-dependent phenotypes, including flocculation. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of this strain-specific phenotypic variability. Our data indicate that strain-specific differences in the level of flocculation result from significant sequence differences in the FLO11 alleles and do not depend on quantitative differences in FLO11 expression or on surface hydrophobicity. We further have shown that beads coated with amino-terminal domain peptide bind preferentially to homologous cells. These data show that variability in the structure of the Flo11 adhesion domain may thus be an important determinant of membership in microbial communities and hence may drive selection and evolution. FLO11 encodes a yeast cell wall flocculin that mediates a variety of adhesive phenotypes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Flo11p is implicated in many developmental processes, including flocculation, formation of pseudohyphae, agar invasion, and formation of microbial mats and biofilms. However, Flo11p mediates different processes in different yeast strains. To investigate the mechanisms by which FLO11 determines these differences in colony morphology, flocculation, and invasion, we studied gene structure, function, and expression levels. Nonflocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae Σ1278b cells exhibited significantly higher FLO11 mRNA expression, especially in the stationary phase, than highly flocculent S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus. The two strains varied in cell surface hydrophobicity, and Flo11p contributed significantly to surface hydrophobicity in S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus but not in strain Σ1278b. Sequencing of the FLO11 gene in S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus revealed strain-specific differences, including a 15-amino-acid insertion in the adhesion domain. Flo11p adhesion domains from strain Σ1278b and S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus were expressed and used to coat magnetic beads. The adhesion domain from each strain bound preferentially to homologous cells, and the preferences were independent of the cells in which the adhesion domains were produced. These results are consistent with the idea that strain-specific variations in the amino acid sequences in the adhesion domains cause different Flo11p flocculation activities. The results also imply that strain-specific differences in expression levels, posttranslational modifications, and allelic differences outside the adhesion domains have little effect on flocculation. IMPORTANCE As a nonmotile organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae employs the cell surface flocculin Flo11/Muc1 as an important means of adapting to environmental change. However, there is a great deal of strain variation in the expression of Flo11-dependent phenotypes, including flocculation. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of this strain-specific phenotypic variability. Our data indicate that strain-specific differences in the level of flocculation result from significant sequence differences in the FLO11 alleles and do not depend on quantitative differences in FLO11 expression or on surface hydrophobicity. We further have shown that beads coated with amino-terminal domain peptide bind preferentially to homologous cells. These data show that variability in the structure of the Flo11 adhesion domain may thus be an important determinant of membership in microbial communities and hence may drive selection and evolution.

scholarly journals Ste12 and Ste12-Like Proteins, Fungal Transcription Factors Regulating Development and Pathogenicity

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Wong Sak Hoi ◽  
Bernard Dumas
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Fungal Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pseudohyphal Growth ◽  
Life Styles ◽  
Fungal Kingdom

ABSTRACT Ste12 and Ste12-like proteins are transcription factors found exclusively in the fungal kingdom. In the yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where the first member was identified, Ste12p was shown to regulate mating and invasive/pseudohyphal growth. In recent literature, there have been several reports of Ste12-like factors in multiple fungal systems, yeasts or filamentous fungi, with saprophytic or parasitic life-styles. In all these models, Ste12 and Ste12-like factors are involved in the regulation of fungal development and pathogenicity. In this review, we discuss the features, the regulation, and the role of Ste12 and Ste12-like factors by highlighting the similarities and dissimilarities that occur within this group.

Inhibition of Yeast Growth by Tryptamine and Recovery with Tryptophan

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrika Kadkol ◽  
Ian Macreadie
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Carbon Source ◽  
Competitive Inhibition ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Trna Synthetases ◽  
Fermentative Growth ◽  
Biogenic Monoamine

Background: Tryptamine, a biogenic monoamine that is present in trace levels in the mammalian central nervous system, has probable roles as a neurotransmitter and/or a neuromodulator and may be associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the ways tryptamine may affect the body is by the competitive inhibition of the attachment of tryptophan to tryptophanyl tRNA synthetases. Methods: This study has explored the effects of tryptamine on growth of six yeast species (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida glabrata, C. krusei, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis and C. lusitaniae) in media with glucose or ethanol as the carbon source, as well as recovery of growth inhibition by the addition of tryptophan. Results: Tryptamine was found to have an inhibitory effect on respiratory growth of all yeast species when grown with ethanol as the carbon source. Tryptamine also inhibited fermentative growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. krusei and C. tropicalis with glucose as the carbon source. In most cases the inhibitory effects were reduced by added tryptophan. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study are consistent with tryptamine competing with tryptophan to bind mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tryptophanyl tRNA synthetases in yeast: effects on mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein synthesis can be studied as a function of growth with glucose or ethanol as a carbon source. Of the yeast species tested, there is variation in the sensitivity to tryptamine and the rescue by tryptophan. The current study suggests appropriate yeast strains and approaches for further studies.

scholarly journals Discovery of a Novel Class of Orally Active Antifungal β-1,3-d-Glucan Synthase Inhibitors

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 5099-5106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott S. Walker ◽  
Yiming Xu ◽  
Ilias Triantafyllou ◽  
Michelle F. Waldman ◽  
Cara Mendrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Glucan Synthase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Spontaneous Mutants ◽  
Orally Active

ABSTRACTThe echinocandins are a class of semisynthetic natural products that target β-1,3-glucan synthase (GS). Their proven clinical efficacy combined with minimal safety issues has made the echinocandins an important asset in the management of fungal infection in a variety of patient populations. However, the echinocandins are delivered only parenterally. A screen for antifungal bioactivities combined with mechanism-of-action studies identified a class of piperazinyl-pyridazinones that target GS. The compounds exhibitedin vitroactivity comparable, and in some cases superior, to that of the echinocandins. The compounds inhibit GSin vitro, and there was a strong correlation between enzyme inhibition andin vitroantifungal activity. In addition, like the echinocandins, the compounds caused a leakage of cytoplasmic contents from yeast and produced a morphological response in molds characteristic of GS inhibitors. Spontaneous mutants ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaewith reduced susceptibility to the piperazinyl-pyridazinones had substitutions inFKS1. The sites of these substitutions were distinct from those conferring resistance to echinocandins; likewise, echinocandin-resistant isolates remained susceptible to the test compounds. Finally, we present efficacy and pharmacokinetic data on an example of the piperazinyl-pyridazinone compounds that demonstrated efficacy in a murine model ofCandida glabratainfection.

scholarly journals Trk2 Potassium Transport System in Streptococcus mutans and Its Role in Potassium Homeostasis, Biofilm Formation, and Stress Tolerance

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (7) ◽  
pp. 1087-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gursonika Binepal ◽  
Kamal Gill ◽  
Paula Crowley ◽  
Martha Cordova ◽  
L. Jeannine Brady ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Transport System ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Dental Biofilm

ABSTRACTPotassium (K+) is the most abundant cation in the fluids of dental biofilm. The biochemical and biophysical functions of K+and a variety of K+transport systems have been studied for most pathogenic bacteria but not for oral pathogens. In this study, we establish the modes of K+acquisition inStreptococcus mutansand the importance of K+homeostasis for its virulence attributes. TheS. mutansgenome harbors four putative K+transport systems that included two Trk-like transporters (designated Trk1 and Trk2), one glutamate/K+cotransporter (GlnQHMP), and a channel-like K+transport system (Kch). Mutants lacking Trk2 had significantly impaired growth, acidogenicity, aciduricity, and biofilm formation. [K+] less than 5 mM eliminated biofilm formation inS. mutans. The functionality of the Trk2 system was confirmed by complementing anEscherichia coliTK2420 mutant strain, which resulted in significant K+accumulation, improved growth, and survival under stress. Taken together, these results suggest that Trk2 is the main facet of the K+-dependent cellular response ofS. mutansto environment stresses.IMPORTANCEBiofilm formation and stress tolerance are important virulence properties of caries-causingStreptococcus mutans. To limit these properties of this bacterium, it is imperative to understand its survival mechanisms. Potassium is the most abundant cation in dental plaque, the natural environment ofS. mutans. K+is known to function in stress tolerance, and bacteria have specialized mechanisms for its uptake. However, there are no reports to identify or characterize specific K+transporters inS. mutans. We identified the most important system for K+homeostasis and its role in the biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and growth. We also show the requirement of environmental K+for the activity of biofilm-forming enzymes, which explains why such high levels of K+would favor biofilm formation.

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