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.

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.

Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signaling in Plants: Conserved and Novel Mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sona Pandey
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Sequence Information ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Protein Components ◽  
Heterotrimeric G Protein Signaling

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins are key regulators of a multitude of signaling pathways in all eukaryotes. Although the core G-protein components and their basic biochemistries are broadly conserved throughout evolution, the regulatory mechanisms of G proteins seem to have been rewired in plants to meet specific needs. These proteins are currently the focus of intense research in plants due to their involvement in many agronomically important traits, such as seed yield, organ size regulation, biotic and abiotic stress responses, symbiosis, and nitrogen use efficiency. The availability of massive sequence information from a variety of plant species, extensive biochemical data generated over decades, and impressive genetic resources for plant G proteins have made it possible to examine their role, unique properties, and novel regulation. This review focuses on some recent advances in our understanding of the mechanistic details of this critical signaling pathway to enable the precise manipulation and generation of plants to meet future needs.

scholarly journals Evidence for a Role of the Regulator of G-Protein Signaling Protein CPRGS-1 in Gα Subunit CPG-1-Mediated Regulation of Fungal Virulence, Conidiation, and Hydrophobin Synthesis in the Chestnut Blight Fungus Cryphonectria parasitica

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1454-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerrit C. Segers ◽  
Jerome C. Regier ◽  
Donald. L. Nuss
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Aerial Mycelium ◽  
Cryphonectria Parasitica ◽  
Chestnut Blight ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Chestnut Blight Fungus ◽  
Rgs Protein

ABSTRACT We previously reported that the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica expresses at least three G-protein α subunits and that Gα subunit CPG-1 is essential for regulated growth, pigmentation, sporulation, and virulence. We now report the cloning and characterization of a C. parasitica regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) protein, CPRGS-1. The phylogenetic relationship of CPRGS-1 to orthologs from other fungi was inferred and found to be generally concordant with species relationships based on 18S ribosomal sequences and on morphology. However, Hemiascomycotine RGS branch lengths in particular were longer than for their 18S sequence counterparts, which correlates with functional diversification in the signaling pathway. Deletion of cprgs-1 resulted in reduced growth, sparse aerial mycelium, and loss of pigmentation, sporulation, and virulence. Disruption of cprgs-1 was also accompanied by a severe posttranscriptional reduction in accumulation of CPG-1 and Gβ subunit CPGB-1 and severely reduced expression of the hydrophobin-encoding gene cryparin. The changes in phenotype, cryparin expression, and CPGB-1 accumulation resulting from cprgs-1 gene deletion were also observed in a strain containing a mutationally activated copy of CPG-1 but not in strains containing constitutively activated mutant alleles of the other two identified Gα subunits, CPG-2 and CPG-3. Furthermore, cprgs-1 transcript levels were increased in the activated CPG-1 strain but were unaltered in activated CPG-2 and CPG-3 strains. The results strongly suggest that CPRGS-1 is involved in regulation of Gα subunit CPG-1-mediated signaling and establish a role for a RGS protein in the modulation of virulence, conidiation, and hydrophobin synthesis in a plant pathogenic fungus.

scholarly journals The rice blast fungus MoRgs1 functioning in cAMP signaling and pathogenicity is regulated by casein kinase MoCk2 phosphorylation and modulated by membrane protein MoEmc2

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. e1009657
Author(s):  
Rui Yu ◽  
Xuetong Shen ◽  
Muxing Liu ◽  
Xinyu Liu ◽  
Ziyi Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Rice Blast ◽  
Casein Kinase ◽  
Camp Signaling ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Regulatory Subunits ◽  
Genes Encoding

GTP-binding protein (G-protein) and regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) mediated signal transduction are critical in the growth and virulence of the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. We have previously reported that there are eight RGS and RGS-like proteins named MoRgs1 to MoRgs8 playing distinct and shared regulatory functions in M. oryzae and that MoRgs1 has a more prominent role compared to others in the fungus. To further explore the unique regulatory mechanism of MoRgs1, we screened a M. oryzae cDNA library for genes encoding MoRgs1-interacting proteins and identified MoCkb2, one of the two regulatory subunits of the casein kinase (CK) 2 MoCk2. We found that MoCkb2 and the sole catalytic subunit MoCka1 are required for the phosphorylation of MoRgs1 at the plasma membrane (PM) and late endosome (LE). We further found that an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein complex (EMC) subunit, MoEmc2, modulates the phosphorylation of MoRgs1 by MoCk2. Interestingly, this phosphorylation is also essential for the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) function of MoRgs1. The balance among MoRgs1, MoCk2, and MoEmc2 ensures normal operation of the G-protein MoMagA-cAMP signaling required for appressorium formation and pathogenicity of the fungus. This has been the first report that an EMC subunit is directly linked to G-protein signaling through modulation of an RGS-casein kinase interaction.

scholarly journals Involvement of a G Protein Regulatory Circuit in Alternative Oxidase Production in Neurospora crassa

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3453-3465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasa Bosnjak ◽  
Kristina M. Smith ◽  
Iman Asaria ◽  
Adrian Lahola-Chomiak ◽  
Nishka Kishore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transport ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Electron Transport Chain ◽  
Alternative Oxidase ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Transport Chain

The Neurospora crassa nuclear aod-1 gene encodes an alternative oxidase that functions in mitochondria. The enzyme provides a branch from the standard electron transport chain by transferring electrons directly from ubiquinol to oxygen. In standard laboratory strains, aod-1 is transcribed at very low levels under normal growth conditions. However, if the standard electron transport chain is disrupted, aod-1 mRNA expression is induced and the AOD1 protein is produced. We previously identified a strain of N. crassa, that produces high levels of aod-1 transcript under non-inducing conditions. Here we have crossed this strain to a standard lab strain and determined the genomic sequences of the parents and several progeny. Analysis of the sequence data and the levels of aod-1 mRNA in uninduced cultures revealed that a frameshift mutation in the flbA gene results in the high uninduced expression of aod-1. The flbA gene encodes a regulator of G protein signaling that decreases the activity of the Gα subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins. Our data suggest that strains with a functional flbA gene prevent uninduced expression of aod-1 by inactivating a G protein signaling pathway, and that this pathway is activated in cells grown under conditions that induce aod-1. Induced cells with a deletion of the gene encoding the Gα protein still have a partial increase in aod-1 mRNA levels, suggesting a second pathway for inducing transcription of the gene in N. crassa. We also present evidence that a translational control mechanism prevents production of AOD1 protein in uninduced cultures.

Modulation of renal tubular cell function by RGS3

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (4) ◽  
pp. F535-F543 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Grüning ◽  
T. Arnould ◽  
F. Jochimsen ◽  
L. Sellin ◽  
S. Ananth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Inducible Promoter ◽  
Polyclonal Antiserum ◽  
Renal Tubular Cell ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Adult Kidney

The recently discovered family of regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) accelerates the intrinsic GTPase activity of certain Gα subunits, thereby terminating G protein signaling. Particularly high mRNA levels of one family member, RGS3, are found in the adult kidney. To establish the temporal and spatial renal expression pattern of RGS3, a polyclonal antiserum was raised against the COOH terminus of RGS3. Staining of mouse renal tissue at different gestational stages revealed high levels of RGS3 within the developing and mature tubular epithelial cells. We tested whether RGS3 can modulate tubular migration, an important aspect of tubular development, in response to G protein-mediated signaling. Several mouse intermedullary collecting duct (mIMCD-3) cell lines were generated that expressed RGS3 under the control of an inducible promoter. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent chemoattractant that mediates its effects through heterotrimeric G proteins. We found that induction of RGS3 significantly reduced LPA-mediated cell migration in RGS3-expressing mIMCD-3 clones, whereas chemotaxis induced by hepatocyte growth factor remained unaffected by RGS3. Our findings suggest that RGS3 modulates tubular functions during renal development and in the adult kidney.

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