scholarly journals Characteristics of a Regulator of G-Protein Signaling (RGS) rgsC in Aspergillus fumigatus

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Kim ◽  
In-Beom Heo ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Yu ◽  
Kwang-Soo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling

scholarly journals Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signalers and RGSs in Aspergillus fumigatus

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 902
Author(s):  
Hee-Soo Park ◽  
Min-Ju Kim ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Yu ◽  
Kwang-Soo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Heterotrimeric G Protein ◽  
External Signals

The heterotrimeric G-protein (G-protein) signaling pathway is one of the most important signaling pathways that transmit external signals into the inside of the cell, triggering appropriate biological responses. The external signals are sensed by various G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and transmitted into G-proteins consisting of the α, β, and γ subunits. Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGSs) are the key controllers of G-protein signaling pathways. GPCRs, G-proteins, and RGSs are the primary upstream components of the G-protein signaling pathway, and they are highly conserved in most filamentous fungi, playing diverse roles in biological processes. Recent studies characterized the G-protein signaling components in the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. In this review, we have summarized the characteristics and functions of GPCRs, G-proteins, and RGSs, and their regulatory roles in governing fungal growth, asexual development, germination, stress tolerance, and virulence in A. fumigatus.

scholarly journals RgsA Attenuates the PKA Signaling, Stress Response, and Virulence in the Human Opportunistic Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 5628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hnin Phyu Lwin ◽  
Yong-Ho Choi ◽  
Min-Woo Lee ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Yu ◽  
Kwang-Soo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Genes Encoding

The regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins play an important role in upstream control of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling pathways. In the genome of the human opportunistic pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, six RGS protein-encoding genes are present. To characterize the rgsA gene predicted to encode a protein with an RGS domain, we generated an rgsA null mutant and observed the phenotypes of the mutant. The deletion (Δ) of rgsA resulted in increased radial growth and enhanced asexual sporulation in both solid and liquid culture conditions. Accordingly, transcripts levels of the key asexual developmental regulators abaA, brlA, and wetA are elevated in the ΔrgsA mutant. Moreover, ΔrgsA resulted in elevated spore germination rates in the absence of a carbon source. The activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and mRNA levels of genes encoding PKA signaling elements are elevated by ΔrgsA. In addition, mRNA levels of genes associated with stress-response signaling increased with the lack of rgsA, and the ΔrgsA spores showed enhanced tolerance against oxidative stressors. Comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed that the ΔrgsA mutant showed higher mRNA levels of gliotoxin (GT) biosynthetic genes. Accordingly, the rgsA null mutant exhibited increased production of GT and elevated virulence in the mouse. Conversely, the majority of genes encoding glucan degrading enzymes were down-regulated by ΔrgsA, and endoglucanase activities were reduced. In summary, RgsA plays multiple roles, governing growth, development, stress responses, virulence, and external polymer degradation—likely by attenuating PKA signaling.

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