Quantifying the importance of galactofuranose in Aspergillus nidulans hyphal wall surface organization by atomic force microscopy

The fungal wall mediates cell-environment interactions. Galactofuranose (Galf), the five-member ring form of galactose, has a relatively low abundance in Aspergillus walls yet is important for fungal growth and fitness. Aspergillus nidulans strains deleted for Galf biosynthesis enzymes UgeA (UDP-glucose-4-epimerase) and UgmA (UDP-galactopyranose mutase) lacked immunolocalizable Galf, had growth and sporulation defects, and had abnormal wall architecture. We used atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy to image and quantify cell wall viscoelasticity and surface adhesion of ugeAΔ and ugmAΔ strains. We compared the results for ugeAΔ and ugmAΔ strains with the results for a wild-type strain (AAE1) and the ugeB deletion strain, which has wild-type growth and sporulation. Our results suggest that UgeA and UgmA are important for cell wall surface subunit organization and wall viscoelasticity. The ugeAΔ and ugmAΔ strains had significantly larger surface subunits and lower cell wall viscoelastic moduli than those of AAE1 or ugeBΔ hyphae. Double deletion strains (ugeAΔ ugeBΔ and ugeAΔ ugmAΔ) had more-disorganized surface subunits than single deletion strains. Changes in wall surface structure correlated with changes in its viscoelastic modulus for both fixed and living hyphae. Wild-type walls had the largest viscoelastic modulus, while the walls of the double deletion strains had the smallest. The ugmAΔ strain and particularly the ugeAΔ ugmAΔ double deletion strain were more adhesive to hydrophilic surfaces than the wild type, consistent with changes in wall viscoelasticity and surface organization. We propose that Galf is necessary for full maturation of A. nidulans walls during hyphal extension.     

Aspergillus nidulans UDP-galactopyranose mutase, encoded by ugmA plays key roles in colony growth, hyphal morphogenesis, and conidiation

Growing resistance to current anti-fungal drugs is spurring investigation of new targets, including those in fungal wall metabolism. Galactofuranose (Galf) is found in the cell walls of many fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus, which is currently the most prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogen in developed countries, and A. nidulans, a closely-related, tractable model system. UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) converts UDP-galactopyranose into UDP-Galf prior to incorporation into the fungal wall. We deleted the single-copy UGM sequence (AN3112.4, which we call ugmA) from an A. nidulans nkuADelta strain, creating ugmADelta. Haploid ugmADelta strains were able to complete their asexual life cycle, showing that ugmA is not essential. However, ugmADelta strains had compact colonial growth, which was associated with substantially delayed and abnormal conidiation. Compared to a wildtype morphology strain, ugmADelta strains had aberrant hyphal morphology, producing wide, uneven, highly-branched hyphae, with thick, relatively electron-dense walls as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. These effects were partially remediated by growth on high osmolarity medium, or on medium containing 10 microg/mL Calcofluor, consistent with Galf being important in cell wall structure and/or function.     

Aspergillus nidulans Cell Wall Composition and Function Change in Response to Hosting Several Aspergillus fumigatus UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase Activity Mutants

Deletion or repression of Aspergillus nidulans ugmA (AnugmA), involved in galactofuranose biosynthesis, impairs growth and increases sensitivity to Caspofungin, a β-1,3-glucan synthesis antagonist. The A. fumigatus UgmA (AfUgmA) crystal structure has been determined. From that study, AfUgmA mutants with altered enzyme activity were transformed into AnugmA▵ to assess their effect on growth and wall composition in A. nidulans. The complemented (AnugmA::wild type AfugmA) strain had wild type phenotype, indicating these genes had functional homology. Consistent with in vitro studies, AfUgmA residues R182 and R327 were important for its function in vivo, with even conservative amino (RK) substitutions producing AnugmA? phenotype strains. Similarly, the conserved AfUgmA loop III histidine (H63) was important for Galf generation: the H63N strain had a partially rescued phenotype compared to AnugmA▵. Collectively, A. nidulans strains that hosted mutated AfUgmA constructs with low enzyme activity showed increased hyphal surface adhesion as assessed by binding fluorescent latex beads. Consistent with previous qPCR results, immunofluorescence and ELISA indicated that AnugmA▵ and AfugmA-mutated A. nidulans strains had increased α-glucan and decreased β-glucan in their cell walls compared to wild type and AfugmA-complemented strains. Like the AnugmA▵ strain, A. nidulans strains containing mutated AfugmA showed increased sensitivity to antifungal drugs, particularly Caspofungin. Reduced β-glucan content was correlated with increased Caspofungin sensitivity. Aspergillus nidulans wall Galf, α-glucan, and β-glucan content was correlated in A. nidulans hyphal walls, suggesting dynamic coordination between cell wall synthesis and cell wall integrity.     

Aspergillus nidulans UDP-glucose-4-epimerase UgeA has multiple roles in wall architecture,hyphal morphogenesis,and asexual development

Aspergillus nidulans UDP-glucose-4-epimerase UgeA interconverts UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose and participates in galactose metabolism. The sugar moiety of UDP-galactose is predominantly found as galactopyranose (Galp, the six-membered ring form), which is the substrate for UDP-galactopyranose mutase (encoded by ugmA) to generate UDP-galactofuranose (Galf, the five-membered ring form) that is found in fungal walls. In A. fumigatus, Galf residues appear to be important for virulence. The A. nidulans ugeAΔ strain is viable, and has defects including wide, slow growing, highly branched hyphae and reduced conidiation that resemble the ugmAΔ strain. As for the ugmAΔ strain, ugeAΔ colonies had substantially reduced sporulation but normal spore viability. Conidia of the ugeAΔ strain could not form colonies on galactose as a sole carbon source, however they produced short, multinucleate germlings suggesting they ceased to grow from starvation. UgeA purified from an expression plasmid had a relative molecular weight of 40.6 kDa, and showed in vitro UDP-glucose-4-epimerase activity. Transmission electron microscope cross-sections of wildtype, ugeAΔ, and ugmAΔ hyphae showed they had similar cytoplasmic contents but the walls of each strain were different in appearance and thickness. Both deletion strains showed increased substrate adhesion. Localization of UgeA-GFP and UgmA-GFP was cytoplasmic, and was similar on glucose and galactose. Neither gene product had a longitudinal polarized distribution. Localization of a UgmA-mRFP in a strain that resembled the ugmAΔ strain was cytoplasmic and lacked a longitudinal polarized distribution. The roles of UgeA in A. nidulans growth and morphogenesis are consistent with the importance of Galf, and are related but not identical to the roles of UgmA.     

Coordination of storage lipid synthesis and membrane biogenesis: evidence for cross-talk between triacylglycerol metabolism and phosphatidylinositol synthesis

Despite the importance of triacylglycerols (TAG) and steryl esters (SE) in phospholipid synthesis in cells transitioning from stationary-phase into active growth, there is no direct evidence for their requirement in synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) or other membrane phospholipids in logarithmically growing yeast cells. We report that the dga1Δlro1Δare1Δare2Δ strain, which lacks the ability to synthesize both TAG and SE, is not able to sustain normal growth in the absence of inositol (Ino(-) phenotype) at 37 °C especially when choline is present. Unlike many other strains exhibiting an Ino(-) phenotype, the dga1Δlro1Δare1Δare2Δ strain does not display a defect in INO1 expression. However, the mutant exhibits slow recovery of PI content compared with wild type cells upon reintroduction of inositol into logarithmically growing cultures. The tgl3Δtgl4Δtgl5Δ strain, which is able to synthesize TAG but unable to mobilize it, also exhibits attenuated PI formation under these conditions. However, unlike dga1Δlro1Δare1Δare2Δ, the tgl3Δtgl4Δtgl5Δ strain does not display an Ino(-) phenotype, indicating that failure to mobilize TAG is not fully responsible for the growth defect of the dga1Δlro1Δare1Δare2Δ strain in the absence of inositol. Moreover, synthesis of phospholipids, especially PI, is dramatically reduced in the dga1Δlro1Δare1Δare2Δ strain even when it is grown continuously in the presence of inositol. The mutant also utilizes a greater proportion of newly synthesized PI than wild type for the synthesis of inositol-containing sphingolipids, especially in the absence of inositol. Thus, we conclude that storage lipid synthesis actively influences membrane phospholipid metabolism in logarithmically growing cells.     

Effects of excess succinate and retrograde control of metabolite accumulation in yeast tricarboxylic cycle mutants

Cellular and mitochondrial metabolite levels were measured in yeast TCA cycle mutants (sdh2Δ or fum1Δ) lacking succinate dehydrogenase or fumarase activities. Cellular levels of succinate relative to parental strain levels were found to be elevated ~8-fold in the sdh2Δ mutant and ~4-fold in the fum1Δ mutant, and there was a preferential increase in mitochondrial levels in these mutant strains. The sdh2Δ and fum1Δ strains also exhibited 3-4-fold increases in expression of Cit2, the cytosolic form of citrate synthase that functions in the glyoxylate pathway. Co-disruption of the SFC1 gene encoding the mitochondrial succinate/fumarate transporter resulted in higher relative mitochondrial levels of succinate and in substantial reductions of Cit2 expression in sdh2Δsfc1Δ and fum1Δsfc1Δ strains as compared with sdh2Δ and fum1Δ strains, suggesting that aberrant transport of succinate out of mitochondria mediated by Sfc1 is related to the increased expression of Cit2 in sdh2Δ and fum1Δ strains. A defect (rtg1Δ) in the yeast retrograde response pathway, which controls expression of several mitochondrial proteins and Cit2, eliminated expression of Cit2 and reduced expression of NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh) and aconitase (Aco1) in parental, sdh2Δ, and fum1Δ strains. Concomitantly, co-disruption of the RTG1 gene reduced the cellular levels of succinate in the sdh2Δ and fum1Δ strains, of fumarate in the fum1Δ strain, and citrate in an idhΔ strain. Thus, the retrograde response is necessary for maintenance of normal flux through the TCA and glyoxylate cycles in the parental strain and for metabolite accumulation in TCA cycle mutants.     

Characterization of a shiitake mutant strain producing ballshaped fruiting bodies

Growth characteristics of a spontaneous mutant of shiitake Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler were studied. The mutant was first detected as a result of changes in the growth habit of the normal strain in the liquid medium. Abundant formation of aerial hyphae was distinctive. In sawdust logs the mutant strain produced abnormal basidiocarps, lacking stipe, gill and spore formation.
Growth rates of the normal and the mutant strain were compared in two liquid media: malt-yeast extract and Leatham's medium. The increase in dry weight of the mutant's mycelium was much higher than that of the wild type in both media, which indicated better adaptation to liquid culture. In the sawdust, however, growth of the mutant was slower than that of the normal strain. The mutant's intracellular protein content was lower than that of the normal strain. The pH of the liquid cultures differed: the wild type decreased the pH during growth, while the mutant increased the pH. Comparison of the protein and esterase isoenzyme profiles of the vegetative hyphae of both strains indicated profound differences. One protein (pI 6.5, 39 kDa), which in earlier studies has been found to be typical of L. edodes species, was absent from the mutant's profile. Differences in the esterase profile were also clear.     

Gpd1 and Gpd2 fine-tuning for sustainable reduction of glycerol formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Gpd1 and Gpd2 are the two isoforms of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), which is the rate-controlling enzyme of glycerol formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The two isoenzymes play crucial roles in osmoregulation and redox balancing. Past approaches to increase ethanol yield at the cost of reduced glycerol yield have most often been based on deletion of either one or two isogenes (GPD1 and GPD2). While single deletions of GPD1 or GPD2 reduced glycerol formation only slightly, the gpd1Δ gpd2Δ double deletion strain produced zero glycerol but showed an osmosensitive phenotype and abolished anaerobic growth. Our current approach has sought to generate "intermediate" phenotypes by reducing both isoenzyme activities without abolishing them. To this end, the GPD1 promoter was replaced in a gpd2Δ background by two lower-strength TEF1 promoter mutants. In the same manner, the activity of the GPD2 promoter was reduced in a gpd1Δ background. The resulting strains were crossed to obtain different combinations of residual GPD1 and GPD2 expression levels. Among our engineered strains we identified four candidates showing improved ethanol yields compared to the wild type. In contrast to a gpd1Δ gpd2Δ double-deletion strain, these strains were able to completely ferment the sugars under quasi-anaerobic conditions in both minimal medium and during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of liquefied wheat mash (wheat liquefact). This result implies that our strains can tolerate the ethanol concentration at the end of the wheat liquefact SSF (up to 90 g liter(-1)). Moreover, a few of these strains showed no significant reduction in osmotic stress tolerance compared to the wild type.     

Increased ethanol production from glycerol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with enhanced stress tolerance from the overexpression of SAGA complex components

During the industrial production of ethanol using yeast, the cells are exposed to stresses that affect their growth and productivity; therefore, stress-tolerant yeast strains are highly desirable. To increase ethanol production from glycerol, a greater tolerance to osmotic and ethanol stress was engineered in yeast strains that were impaired in endogenous glycerol production by the overexpression of both SPT3 and SPT15, components of the SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) complex. The engineered strain YPH499fps1Δgpd2Δ (pGcyaDak, pGupSpt3.15Cas) formed significantly more biomass compared to the strain YPH499fps1Δgpd2Δ (pGcyaDak, pGupCas), and both engineered strains displayed increased biomass when compared to the control YPH499 fps1Δgpd2Δ (pESC-TRP) strain. The trehalose accumulation and ergosterol content of these strains were 2.3-fold and 1.6-fold higher, respectively, than the parent strains, suggesting that levels of cellular membrane components were correlated with the enhanced stress tolerance of the engineered strains. Consequently, the ethanol production of the engineered strain YPH499fps1Δgpd2Δ (pGcyaDak, pGupSpt3.15Cas) was 1.8-fold more than that of strain YPH499fps1Δgpd2Δ (pGcyaDak, pGupCas), with about 8.1g/L ethanol produced. In conclusion, we successfully established that the co-expression of SPT3 and SPT15 that improved the fermentation performance of the engineered yeast strains which produced higher ethanol yields than stress-sensitive yeast strains.     

¹³C-metabolic enrichment of glutamate in glutamate dehydrogenase mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Glutamate dehydrogenases (GDH) interconvert α-ketoglutarate and glutamate. In yeast, NADP-dependent enzymes, encoded by GDH1 and GDH3, are reported to synthesize glutamate from α-ketoglutarate, while an NAD-dependent enzyme, encoded by GDH2, catalyzes the reverse. Cells were grown in acetate/raffinose (YNAceRaf) to examine the role(s) of these enzymes during aerobic metabolism. In YNAceRaf the doubling time of wild type, gdh2Δ, and gdh3Δ cells was comparable at ～4 h. NADP-dependent GDH activity (Gdh1p+Gdh3p) in wild type, gdh2Δ, and gdh3Δ was decreased ～80% and NAD-dependent activity (Gdh2p) in wild type and gdh3Δ was increased ～20-fold in YNAceRaf as compared to glucose. Cells carrying the gdh1Δ allele did not divide in YNAceRaf, yet both the NADP-dependent (Gdh3p) and NAD-dependent (Gdh2p) GDH activity was ～3-fold higher than in glucose. Metabolism of [1,2-(13)C]-acetate and analysis of carbon NMR spectra were used to examine glutamate metabolism. Incorporation of (13)C into glutamate was nearly undetectable in gdh1Δ cells, reflecting a GDH activity at <15% of wild type. Analysis of (13)C-enrichment of glutamate carbons indicates a decreased rate of glutamate biosynthesis from acetate in gdh2Δ and gdh3Δ strains as compared to wild type. Further, the relative complexity of (13)C-isotopomers at early time points was noticeably greater in gdh3Δ as compared to wild type and gdh2Δ cells. These in vivo data show that Gdh1p is the primary GDH enzyme and Gdh2p and Gdh3p play evident roles during aerobic glutamate metabolism.     

The septins FaCdc3 and FaCdc12 are required for cytokinesis and affect asexual and sexual development,lipid metabolism and virulence in Fusarium asiaticum

Septins are a highly conserved family of GTP‐binding proteins that contribute to many cellular and metabolic functions, including cell polarity, cytokinesis, cell morphogenesis and pathogenesis. In this study, we characterized the septins FaCdc3 and FaCdc12 in the filamentous fungus Fusarium asiaticum. The functions of FaCdc3 and FaCdc12 were evaluated by constructing deletion mutants of FaCdc3 and FaCdc12, designated ΔFaCdc3‐5 and ΔFaCdc12‐71, respectively. The deletion mutants exhibited a reduced rate of mycelial growth, increased aerial hyphae formation, irregularly shaped hyphae, reduced conidiation and a lack of sexual reproduction in wheat kernels. Histochemical analysis revealed that the conidia and hyphae of ΔFaCdc3‐5 and ΔFaCdc12‐71 formed large lipid droplets (LDs). ΔFaCdc3‐5 and ΔFaCdc12‐71 also exhibited increased resistance to agents that induce osmotic stress and damage the cell membrane and cell wall. In addition, the hyphae and conidia of the two mutants formed fewer septa than those of the wild‐type and exhibited aberrant nuclear distribution. Pathogenicity assays showed that ΔFaCdc3‐5 and ΔFaCdc12‐71 exhibited reduced virulence on wheat spikelets, which was indirectly correlated with a reduced level of deoxynivalenol accumulation. All of these defects were restored by genetic complementation of the two mutants with the parental FaCdc3 and FaCdc12. These results indicate that FaCdc3 and FaCdc12 play a critical role in various cellular processes in F. asiaticum.     

UDP-galactopyranose mutase has a novel structure and mechanism

Uridine diphosphogalactofuranose (UDP-Galf ) is the precursor of the d-galactofuranose (Galf ) residues found in bacterial and parasitic cell walls, including those of many pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Trypanosoma cruzi. UDP-Galf is made from UDP-galactopyranose (UDP-Galp) by the enzyme UDP-galactopyranose mutase (mutase). The mutase enzyme is essential for the viability of mycobacteria and is not found in humans, making it a viable therapeutic target. The mechanism by which mutase achieves the unprecedented ring contraction of a nonreducing sugar is unclear. We have solved the crystal structure of Escherichia coli mutase to 2.4 A resolution. The novel structure shows that the flavin nucleotide is located in a cleft lined with conserved residues. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicate that this cleft contains the active site, with the sugar ring of the substrate UDP-galactose adjacent to the exposed isoalloxazine ring of FAD. Assay results establish that the enzyme is active only when flavin is reduced. We conclude that mutase most likely functions by transient reduction of substrate.     

The Candida glabrata sterol scavenging mechanism,mediated by the ATP‐binding cassette transporter Aus1p,is regulated by iron limitation

During disseminated infection by the opportunistic pathogen Candida glabrata, uptake of sterols such as serum cholesterol may play a significant role during pathogenesis. The ATP‐binding cassette transporter Aus1p is thought to function as a sterol importer and in this study, we show that uptake of exogenous sterols occurred under anaerobic conditions in wild‐type cells of C. glabrata but not in AUS1‐deleted mutant (aus1Δ) cells. In aerobic cultures, growth inhibition by fluconazole was prevented in the presence of serum, and AUS1 expression was upregulated. Uptake of sterol by azole treated cells required the presence of serum, and sterol alone did not reverse FLC inhibition of growth. However, if iron availability in the growth medium was limited by addition of the iron chelators ferrozine or apo‐transferrin, growth of wild‐type cells, but not aus1Δ cells, was rescued. In a mouse model of disseminated infection, the C. glabrata aus1Δ strain caused a significantly decreased kidney fungal burden than the wild‐type strain or a strain in which AUS1 was restored. We conclude that sterol uptake in C. glabrata can occur in iron poor environment of host tissues and thus may contribute to C. glabrata pathogenesis.     

香菇双单杂交后代不同发育阶段酯酶同工酶研究

选用香菇野生株分别与栽培株及杂交株进行双单杂交 ,得到 8个杂交后代 ,且具有结实能力 ,分别对液培 2 0d杂交后代菌丝与液培原基酯酶同工酶进行了比较研究。结果表明 ,液培 2 0d菌丝菌株间酯酶同工酶酶谱显示出多样性 ,可以作为鉴定菌株的辅助遗传标记 ,而原基菌株间酯酶同工酶酶谱谱带较少 ,呈现趋同效应 ,不宜作为鉴定香菇菌株的辅助遗传标记。     

A vacuolar glucoamylase,Sga1, participates in glycogen autophagy for proper asexual differentiation in Magnaporthe oryzae

Nutrient limitation acts as a trigger for the synthesis of glycogen, which serves as a carbon and energy reserve during starvation. Recently, we reported that an autophagy-deficient mutant (atg8Δ) shows severe reduction in aerial hyphal growth and conidiation in the rice-blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, and proposed that autophagy plays an important role in facilitating glycogen homeostasis to ensure proper asexual differentiation in Magnaporthe. Here, we identify and characterize a vacuolar glucoamylase function (Sga1) that hydrolyses glycogen to meet the energy requirements during asexual development in Magnaporthe. Loss of SGA1 resulted in significant reduction in conidiation compared to the wild-type Magnaporthe strain. More importantly, an sga1Δ atg8Δ double deletion mutant showed further reduction in conidiation compared to the atg8Δ mutant in Magnaporthe. Forced localization of GFP-Sga1 to the cytoplasm (through removal of the predicted signal peptide) led to increased conidiation in wild type and the sga1Δ, but more interestingly, significantly restored conidiation in the atg8Δ mutant. Our results indicate that autophagy and Sga1 act cooperatively in vacuolar glycogen breakdown, which is essential for conidia formation but dispensable for pathogenicity in Magnaporthe.     

蛹虫草(Cordyceps militaris)无性型的多型现象*

在萨氏琼脂和PDA上,蛹虫草Cordycepsmilitaris（Vuill）Fr.无性型,蛹草拟青霉Paecilomycesmilitaris(Kob）Br.＆Sm．的一些单孢子株可自发产生突变,基于多型现象及其它形态特征可分三种类型：（1）具野生型菌株特征;产孢结构拟青霉型（Paecilomyces－type）,稳定,菌落通常不自发产生角变,大多数单孢子株属此类群。（2）属此类群的单孢子株,在PDA上可形成亮褐色至橙黄色的角变,它们典型的产孢结构为瓶梗轮生,分生孢子常聚集成头状的轮枝孢型（Verticillium－type）。在查氏培养基上则相反,拟青霉型的产孢结构占优势。单孢子株Cm-71是这一类群的代表。（3）单孢子株Cm－42是在所观察单孢子株中形态特征独特的菌株。在PDA上菌丝生长纤细,蛛网状,产孢结构轮枝孢型。蛹草拟青霉对氯酸钾（KClO3）不敏感,在浓度为6％（W／V）的KMM培养基上,23～24℃14天菌落的直径仅1～2cm,无气生菌丝生长。各单孢子株形成的不利用硝酸盐突变株（nit突变株）的途径和形态特征,也可分成类似于粉被虫草CordycepspruinosaPeteh不利用硝酸盐突变株（nit突变株）的三种类型。