scholarly journals Clustering of Nuclei in Multinucleated Hyphae Is Prevented by Dynein-Driven Bidirectional Nuclear Movements and Microtubule Growth Control in Ashbya gossypii

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 902-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Grava ◽  
Miyako Keller ◽  
Sylvia Voegeli ◽  
Shanon Seger ◽  
Claudia Lang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Control ◽  
Accessory Proteins ◽  
Nuclear Density ◽  
Ashbya Gossypii ◽  
Cytoplasmic Microtubule ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Nuclear Clusters ◽  
Microtubule Growth ◽  
Nuclear Clustering

ABSTRACT During filamentous fungus development, multinucleated hyphae employ a system for long-range nuclear migration to maintain an equal nuclear density. A decade ago the microtubule motor dynein was shown to play a central role in this process. Previous studies with Ashbya gossypii revealed extensive bidirectional movements and bypassings of nuclei, an autonomous cytoplasmic microtubule (cMT) cytoskeleton emanating from each nucleus, and pulling of nuclei by sliding of cMTs along the cortex. Here, we show that dynein is the sole motor for bidirectional movements and bypassing because these movements are concomitantly decreased in mutants carrying truncations of the dynein heavy-chain DYN1 promoter. The dynactin component Jnm1, the accessory proteins Dyn2 and Ndl1, and the potential dynein cortical anchor Num1 are also involved in the dynamic distribution of nuclei. In their absence, nuclei aggregate to different degrees, whereby the mutants with dense nuclear clusters grow extremely long cMTs. As in budding yeast, we found that dynein is delivered to cMT plus ends, and its activity or processivity is probably controlled by dynactin and Num1. Together with its role in powering nuclear movements, we propose that dynein also plays (directly or indirectly) a role in the control of cMT length. Those combined dynein actions prevent nuclear clustering in A. gossypii and thus reveal a novel cellular role for dynein.

scholarly journals Developmental Growth Control Exerted via the Protein A Kinase Tpk2 in Ashbya gossypii

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Wasserstrom ◽  
Klaus Lengeler ◽  
Andrea Walther ◽  
Jürgen Wendland
Keyword(s):  
Protein A ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Spore Wall ◽  
Ashbya Gossypii ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Developmental Growth ◽  
Late Step ◽  
Transcript Profiles ◽  
Wall Assembly ◽  
Developmental Switch

ABSTRACT Sporulation in Ashbya gossypii is induced by nutrient-limited conditions and leads to the formation of haploid spores. Using RNA-seq, we have determined a gene set induced upon sporulation, which bears considerable overlap with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae but also contains A. gossypii -specific genes. Addition of cyclic AMP (cAMP) to nutrient-limited media blocks sporulation and represses the induction of sporulation specific genes. Deletion of the protein kinase A (PKA) catalytic subunits encoded by TPK1 and TPK2 showed reduced growth in tpk1 but enhanced growth in the tpk2 strain; however, both mutants sporulated well. Sporulation can be blocked by cAMP in tpk1 but not in tpk2 strains. Similarly, TPK2 acts at a second developmental switch promoting the break in spore dormancy. In S. cerevisiae , PKA phosphorylates and inhibits Msn2/4. The transcript profiles of the tpk1 and msn2/4 mutants were very similar to that of the wild type under sporulation conditions. However, deletion of the single A. gossypii MSN2/4 homolog generated a specific sporulation defect. We identified a set of genes involved in spore wall assembly that was downregulated in the msn2/4 mutant, particularly DIT2 , suggesting that poor spore viability may be due to lysis of spores. Our results reveal specific functional differences between the two catalytic PKA subunits in A. gossypii and identified Tpk2 as the key A kinase that transduces developmental decisions of growth. Our data also suggest that Msn2/4 is involved only at a late step of sporulation in A. gossypii and is not a major regulator of IME1 .

The Kar3p and Kip2p motors function antagonistically at the spindle poles to influence cytoplasmic microtubule numbers

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Huyett ◽  
J. Kahana ◽  
P. Silver ◽  
X. Zeng ◽  
W.S. Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Motors ◽  
Motor Proteins ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Intermediate Phenotype ◽  
Microtubule Network ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cytoplasmic Microtubule ◽  
Spindle Poles ◽  
Microtubule Motors ◽  
Microtubule Growth

Microtubules provide the substrate for intracellular trafficking by association with molecular motors of the kinesin and dynein superfamilies. Motor proteins are generally thought to function as force generating units for transport of various cargoes along the microtubule polymer. Recent work suggests additional roles for motor proteins in changing the structure of the microtubule network itself. We report here that in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae microtubule motors have antagonistic effects on microtubule numbers and lengths. As shown previously, loss of the Kar3p motor stimulates cytoplasmic microtubule growth while loss of Kip2p leads to a sharp reduction in cytoplasmic microtubule numbers. Loss of both the Kip2p and Kar3p motors together in the same cell produces an intermediate phenotype, suggesting that these two motors act in opposition to control cytoplasmic microtubule density. A Kip2p-GFP fusion from single gene expression is most concentrated at the spindle poles, as shown previously for an epitope tagged Kar3p-HA, suggesting both of these motors act from the minus ends of the microtubules to influence microtubule numbers.

scholarly journals Implications of the EUCAST Trailing Phenomenon inCandida tropicalisfor theIn VivoSusceptibility in Invertebrate and Murine Models

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. T. Astvad ◽  
D. Sanglard ◽  
E. Delarze ◽  
R. K. Hare ◽  
M. C. Arendrup
Keyword(s):  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Resistant Isolate ◽  
Murine Models ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gradual Loss

ABSTRACTCandida tropicalisisolates often display reduced but persistent growth (trailing) over a broad fluconazole concentration range during EUCAST susceptibility testing. Whereas weak trailing (<25% of the positive growth control) is common and found not to impair fluconazole efficacy, we investigated if more pronounced trailing impacted treatment efficacy. Fluconazole efficacy against two weakly (≤25% growth), two moderately (26% to 50% growth), and one heavily (>70% growth) trailing resistant isolate and one resistant (100% growth) isolate were investigatedin vitroandin vivo(in aGalleria mellonellasurvival model and two nonlethal murine models).CDR1expression levels andERG11sequences were characterized. The survival in fluconazole-treatedG. mellonellawas inversely correlated with the degree of trailing (71% to 9% survival in treatment groups). In mice, resistant and heavily trailing isolates responded poorly to fluconazole treatment.CDR1expression was significantly higher in trailing and resistant isolates than in wild-type isolates (1.4-fold to 10-fold higher). All isolates exhibitedERG11wild-type alleles. Heavily trailing isolates were less responsive to fluconazole in allin vivomodels, indicating an impact on fluconazole efficacy.CDR1upregulation may have contributed to the observed differences. Moderately trailing isolates responded less well to fluconazole in larvae only. This confirms clinical data suggesting fluconazole is effective against infections with such isolates in less severely ill patients and supports the current 50% growth endpoint for susceptibility testing. However, it is still unclear if the gradual loss of efficacy observed for moderately trailing isolates in the larva model may be a reason for concern in selected vulnerable patient populations.

scholarly journals Head-to-Head Comparison of Inhibitory and Fungicidal Activities of Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Posaconazole, and Isavuconazole against Clinical Isolates of Trichosporon asahii

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 4841-4847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulsen Hazirolan ◽  
Emilia Canton ◽  
Selma Sahin ◽  
Sevtap Arikan-Akdagli
Keyword(s):  
Rank Order ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trichosporon Asahii ◽  
Killing Activity ◽  
Fungistatic Activity ◽  
Microdilution Method ◽  
Inhibition Of Growth ◽  
Time Kill

ABSTRACTTreatment of disseminatedTrichosporoninfections still remains difficult. Amphotericin B frequently displays inadequate fungicidal activity and echinocandins have no meaningful antifungal effect against this genus. Triazoles are currently the drugs of choice for the treatment ofTrichosporoninfections. This study evaluates the inhibitory and fungicidal activities of five triazoles against 90 clinical isolates ofTrichosporon asahii. MICs (μg/ml) were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute microdilution method M27-A3 at 24 and 48 h using two endpoints, MIC-2 and MIC-0 (the lowest concentrations that inhibited ∼50 and 100% of growth, respectively). Minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs; μg/ml) were determined by seeding 100 μl of all clear MIC wells (using an inoculum of 104CFU/ml) onto Sabouraud dextrose agar. Time-kill curves were assayed against four clinicalT. asahiiisolates and theT. asahiiATCC 201110 strain. The MIC-2 (∼50% reduction in turbidity compared to the growth control well)/MIC-0 (complete inhibition of growth)/MFC values that inhibited 90% of isolates at 48 h were, respectively, 8/32/64 μg/ml for fluconazole, 1/2/8 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.12/0.5/2 μg/ml for voriconazole, 0.5/2/4 μg/ml for posaconazole, and 0.25/1/4 μg/ml for isavuconazole. The MIC-0 endpoints yielded more consistent MIC results, which remained mostly unchanged when extending the incubation to 48 h (98 to 100% agreement with 24-h values) and are easier to interpret. Based on the time-kill experiments, none of the drugs reached the fungicidal endpoint (99.9% killing), killing activity being shown but at concentrations not reached in serum. Statistical analysis revealed that killing rates are dose and antifungal dependent. The lowest concentration at which killing activity begins was for voriconazole, and the highest was for fluconazole. These results suggest that azoles display fungistatic activity and lack fungicidal effect againstT. asahii. By rank order, the most active triazole is voriconazole, followed by itraconazole ∼ posaconazole ∼ isavuconazole > fluconazole.

scholarly journals Strain Design of Ashbya gossypii for Single-Cell Oil Production

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1237-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro ◽  
María A. Santos ◽  
Alberto Jiménez ◽  
José Luis Revuelta
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Ashbya Gossypii ◽  
Single Cell Oil ◽  
Beta Oxidation ◽  
Atp Citrate Lyase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oxidation Pathway

ABSTRACTSingle-cell oil (SCO) represents a sustainable alternative for the oil industry. Accordingly, the identification of microorganisms with either higher lipidogenic ability or novel capacities for the transformation of raw materials constitutes a major challenge for the field of oil biotechnology. With this in mind, here, we were prompted to address the lipidogenic profile of the filamentous hemiascomyceteAshbya gossypii, which is currently used for the microbial production of vitamins. We found thatA. gossypiimostly accumulates unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), with more than 50% of the total FA content corresponding to oleic acid. In addition, we engineeredA. gossypiistrains both lacking the beta-oxidation pathway and also providing ATP-citrate lyase (ACL) activity to block the degradation of FA and to increase the cytosolic acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) content, respectively. The lipidogenic profile of the newly developed strains demonstrates that the mere elimination of the beta-oxidation pathway inA. gossypiitriggers a significant increase in lipid accumulation that can reach 70% of cell dry weight. The use ofA. gossypiias a novel and robust tool for the production of added-value oils is further discussed.

scholarly journals Biofilm Production and Antibiofilm Activity of Echinocandins and Liposomal Amphotericin B in Echinocandin-Resistant Yeast Species

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 3579-3586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Judith Marcos-Zambrano ◽  
Marta Gómez-Perosanz ◽  
Pilar Escribano ◽  
Oscar Zaragoza ◽  
Emilio Bouza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Metabolic Activity ◽  
Liposomal Amphotericin ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Liposomal Amphotericin B ◽  
Antibiofilm Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Strains

The echinocandins and liposomal amphotericin B are active against biofilm produced by echinocandin-susceptibleCandidastrains. However, few data have been reported on the production of biofilm by echinocandin-resistant isolates and their antifungal susceptibility. We studied the production of biofilm byfksmutantCandidastrains and intrinsically echinocandin-resistant non-Candidaisolates and the susceptibility of both entities to liposomal amphotericin B and echinocandins. We analyzed the production of biofilm by isolates from patients with fungemia (fksmutantCandida,n= 5; intrinsically echinocandin-resistant non-Candida,n= 12; andCandidawild type,n= 10). Biofilm formation was measured to classify strains according to biomass (crystal violet assay) and metabolic activity (XTT reduction assay). Preformed biofilms were tested against liposomal amphotericin B, caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin. The sessile MIC was defined as the antifungal concentration yielding a 50% or 80% reduction in the metabolic activity of the biofilm compared to that of the growth control (SMIC50and SMIC80, respectively).fksmutantCandidaisolates formed biofilms in a fashion similar to that ofCandidawild-type strains. The echinocandins had the highest activity against biofilms formed by wild-typeCandidaisolates, followed byfksmutantCandidaisolates and non-Candidaisolates. Liposomal amphotericin B had the highest activity againstfksmutantCandidabiofilms. The formation of biofilm by echinocandin-resistant strains was similar to that of wild-type strains, although resistance to echinocandins remained high.

scholarly journals Two Accessory Proteins Govern MmpL3 Mycolic Acid Transport in Mycobacteria

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Fay ◽  
Nadine Czudnochowski ◽  
Jeremy M. Rock ◽  
Jeffrey R. Johnson ◽  
Nevan J. Krogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Mycolic Acid ◽  
Accessory Proteins ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mycolic Acids ◽  
Antibiotic Target

ABSTRACT Mycolic acids are the signature lipid of mycobacteria and constitute an important physical component of the cell wall, a target of mycobacterium-specific antibiotics and a mediator of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. Mycolic acids are synthesized in the cytoplasm and are thought to be transported to the cell wall as a trehalose ester by the MmpL3 transporter, an antibiotic target for M. tuberculosis. However, the mechanism by which mycolate synthesis is coupled to transport, and the full MmpL3 transport machinery, is unknown. Here, we identify two new components of the MmpL3 transport machinery in mycobacteria. The protein encoded by MSMEG_0736/Rv0383c is essential for growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis and is anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane, physically interacts with and colocalizes with MmpL3 in growing cells, and is required for trehalose monomycolate (TMM) transport to the cell wall. In light of these findings, we propose MSMEG_0736/Rv0383c be named “TMM transport factor A”, TtfA. The protein encoded by MSMEG_5308 also interacts with the MmpL3 complex but is nonessential for growth or TMM transport. However, MSMEG_5308 accumulates with inhibition of MmpL3-mediated TMM transport and stabilizes the MmpL3/TtfA complex, indicating that it may stabilize the transport system during stress. These studies identify two new components of the mycobacterial mycolate transport machinery, an emerging antibiotic target in M. tuberculosis. IMPORTANCE The cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease tuberculosis, is a complex structure composed of abundant lipids and glycolipids, including the signature lipid of these bacteria, mycolic acids. In this study, we identified two new components of the transport machinery that constructs this complex cell wall. These two accessory proteins are in a complex with the MmpL3 transporter. One of these proteins, TtfA, is required for mycolic acid transport and cell viability, whereas the other stabilizes the MmpL3 complex. These studies identify two new components of the essential cell envelope biosynthetic machinery in mycobacteria.

scholarly journals RNase III Domain of KREPB9 and KREPB10 Association with Editosomes in Trypanosoma brucei

mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Carnes ◽  
Suzanne M. McDermott ◽  
Kenneth Stuart
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Accessory Proteins ◽  
Rnase Iii ◽  
Parasite Life Cycle ◽  
Null Cell ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Editosomes are the multiprotein complexes that catalyze the insertion and deletion of uridines to create translatable mRNAs in the mitochondria of kinetoplastids. Recognition and cleavage of a broad diversity of RNA substrates in vivo require three functionally distinct RNase III-type endonucleases, as well as five additional editosome proteins that contain noncatalytic RNase III domains. RNase III domains have recently been identified in the editosome accessory proteins KREPB9 and KREPB10, suggesting a role related to editing endonuclease function. In this report, we definitively show that KREPB9 and KREPB10 are not essential in either bloodstream-form parasites (BF) or procyclic-form parasites (PF) by creating null or conditional null cell lines. While preedited and edited transcripts are largely unaffected by the loss of KREPB9 in both PF and BF, loss of KREPB10 produces distinct responses in BF and PF. BF cells lacking KREPB10 also lack edited CYb, while PF cells have increased edited A6, RPS12, ND3, and COII after loss of KREPB10. We also demonstrate that mutation of the RNase III domain of either KREPB9 or KREPB10 results in decreased association with ~20S editosomes. Editosome interactions with KREPB9 and KREPB10 are therefore mediated by the noncatalytic RNase III domain, consistent with a role in endonuclease specialization in Trypanosoma brucei. IMPORTANCE Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness. U insertion/deletion RNA editing in T. brucei generates mature mitochondrial mRNAs. Editing is essential for survival in mammalian hosts and tsetse fly vectors and is differentially regulated during the parasite life cycle. Three multiprotein “editosomes,” typified by exclusive RNase III endonucleases that act at distinct sites, catalyze editing. Here, we show that editosome accessory proteins KREPB9 and KREPB10 are not essential for mammalian blood- or insect-form parasite survival but have specific and differential effects on edited RNA abundance in different stages. We also characterize KREPB9 and KREPB10 noncatalytic RNase III domains and show they are essential for editosome association, potentially via dimerization with RNase III domains in other editosome proteins. This work enhances the understanding of distinct editosome and accessory protein functions, and thus differential editing, during the parasite life cycle and highlights the importance of RNase III domain interactions to editosome architecture.

scholarly journals Clustered nuclei maintain autonomy and nucleocytoplasmic ratio control in a syncytium

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (13) ◽  
pp. 2000-2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha E. R. Dundon ◽  
Shyr-Shea Chang ◽  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
Patricia Occhipinti ◽  
Hari Shroff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Ashbya Gossypii ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nuclear Activity ◽  
Nuclear Clusters

Nuclei in syncytia found in fungi, muscles, and tumors can behave independently despite cytoplasmic translation and the homogenizing potential of diffusion. We use a dynactin mutant strain of the multinucleate fungus Ashbya gossypii with highly clustered nuclei to assess the relative contributions of nucleus and cytoplasm to nuclear autonomy. Remarkably, clustered nuclei maintain cell cycle and transcriptional autonomy; therefore some sources of nuclear independence function even with minimal cytosol insulating nuclei. In both nuclear clusters and among evenly spaced nuclei, a nucleus’ transcriptional activity dictates local cytoplasmic contents, as assessed by the localization of several cyclin mRNAs. Thus nuclear activity is a central determinant of the local cytoplasm in syncytia. Of note, we found that the number of nuclei per unit cytoplasm was identical in the mutant to that in wild-type cells, despite clustered nuclei. This work demonstrates that nuclei maintain autonomy at a submicrometer scale and simultaneously maintain a normal nucleocytoplasmic ratio across a syncytium up to the centimeter scale.

scholarly journals AgSwe1p Regulates Mitosis in Response to Morphogenesis and Nutrients in Multinucleated Ashbya gossypii Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 4494-4512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanspeter Helfer ◽  
Amy S. Gladfelter
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Nuclear Density ◽  
Ashbya Gossypii ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Negative Regulators ◽  
Multinucleated Cells ◽  
Cdk Phosphorylation ◽  
External Signals ◽  
Kinase A ◽  
External Nutrient

Nuclei in the filamentous, multinucleated fungus Ashbya gossypii divide asynchronously. We have investigated what internal and external signals spatially direct mitosis within these hyphal cells. Mitoses are most common near cortical septin rings found at growing tips and branchpoints. In septin mutants, mitoses are no longer concentrated at branchpoints, suggesting that the septin rings function to locally promote mitosis near new branches. Similarly, cells lacking AgSwe1p kinase (a Wee1 homologue), AgHsl1p (a Nim1-related kinase), and AgMih1p phosphatase (the Cdc25 homologue that likely counteracts AgSwe1p activity) also have mitoses distributed randomly in the hyphae as opposed to at branchpoints. Surprisingly, however, no phosphorylation of the CDK tyrosine 18 residue, the conserved substrate of Swe1p kinases, was detected in normally growing cells. In contrast, abundant CDK tyrosine phosphorylation was apparent in starving cells, resulting in diminished nuclear density. This starvation-induced CDK phosphorylation is AgSwe1p dependent, and overexpressed AgSwe1p is sufficient to delay nuclei even in rich nutrient conditions. In starving cells lacking septins or AgSwe1p negative regulators, the nuclear density is further diminished compared with wild type. We have generated a model in which AgSwe1p may regulate mitosis in response to cell intrinsic morphogenesis cues and external nutrient availability in multinucleated cells.

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