Signal Transduction Cascades Regulating Fungal Development and Virulence

Cellular differentiation, mating, and filamentous growth are regulated in many fungi by environmental and nutritional signals. For example, in response to nitrogen limitation, diploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergo a dimorphic transition to filamentous growth referred to as pseudohyphal differentiation. Yeast filamentous growth is regulated, in part, by two conserved signal transduction cascades: a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and a G-protein regulated cyclic AMP signaling pathway. Related signaling cascades play an analogous role in regulating mating and virulence in the plant fungal pathogen Ustilago maydis and the human fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. We review here studies on the signaling cascades that regulate development of these and other fungi. This analysis illustrates both how the model yeast S. cerevisiae can serve as a paradigm for signaling in other organisms and also how studies in other fungi provide insights into conserved signaling pathways that operate in many divergent organisms.     

Histidine Phosphotransfer Proteins in Fungal Two-Component Signal Transduction Pathways

The histidine phosphotransfer (HPt) protein Ypd1 is an important participant in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae multistep two-component signal transduction pathway and, unlike the expanded histidine kinase gene family, is encoded by a single gene in nearly all model and pathogenic fungi. Ypd1 is essential for viability in both S. cerevisiae and in Cryptococcus neoformans. These and other aspects of Ypd1 biology, combined with the availability of structural and mutational data in S. cerevisiae, suggest that the essential interactions between Ypd1 and response regulator domains would be a good target for antifungal drug development. The goal of this minireview is to summarize the wealth of data on S. cerevisiae Ypd1 and to consider the potential benefits of conducting related studies in pathogenic fungi.     

BAK1调控植物免疫信号识别和转导的分子机制

植物通过类受体激酶感知环境变化,产生相应的信号来调控机体生长发育。BAK1 (BRI1-associated kinase 1)是其中研究最深入的类受体激酶之一。它调控多种生理过程的信号转导,如植物生长发育、细胞死亡和植物免疫等。本文综述了BAK1作为模式识别受体的共受体以及信号转导的调控子,调控免疫信号识别和转导的机理。以期为深入研究BAK1基因家族在植物抗病反应中的作用,阐明植物免疫信号转导途径提供信息。     

GPI微域与信号转导

许多真核细胞膜表面蛋白 (例如ＣＤ1 4、ＣＤ1 6ｂ、ＣＤ2 4、ＣＤ48、ＣＤ5 2、ＣＤ5 9、ＣＤ5 5 /ＤＡＦ、ＣＤ5 8 /ＬＦＡ 3、ＣＤ6 6、ＣＤ6 7、ＣＤ73、ＣＤ87、ＣＤ90 /Ｔｈｙ 1、ＣＤ1 5 7、Ｌｙ 6等 )通过糖基磷脂酰肌醇(ｇｌｙｃｏｓｙｌｐｈｏｓｐｈａｔｉｄｙｌｉｎｏｓｉｔｏｌ,ＧＰＩ)锚着于细胞膜上 ,称为ＧＰＩ锚定蛋白 (ＧＰＩ ａｎｃｈｏｒｅｄｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｓ,ＧＰＩ ＡＰ) ,它们没有跨膜区和胞内部分 ,不能直接与胞内发生联系。但用特异性抗体结合这些结构上不同的膜蛋白或膜糖鞘脂 (ｇｌｙｃｏｓｐｈｉｎｇｏｌｉｐｉ…     

Further Evidence Supporting a Role for Gs Signal Transduction in Severe Malaria Pathogenesis

With the functional demonstration of a role in erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum parasites, implications in the aetiology of common conditions that prevail in individuals of African origin, and a wealth of pharmacological knowledge, the stimulatory G protein (Gs) signal transduction pathway presents an exciting target for anti-malarial drug intervention. Having previously demonstrated a role for the G-alpha-s gene, GNAS, in severe malaria disease, we sought to identify other important components of the Gs pathway. Using meta-analysis across case-control and family trio (affected child and parental controls) studies of severe malaria from The Gambia and Malawi, we sought evidence of association in six Gs pathway candidate genes: adenosine receptor 2A (ADORA2A) and 2B (ADORA2B), beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (ADRBK1), adenylyl cyclase 9 (ADCY9), G protein beta subunit 3 (GNB3), and regulator of G protein signalling 2 (RGS2). Our study amassed a total of 2278 cases and 2364 controls. Allele-based models of association were investigated in all genes, and genotype and haplotype-based models were investigated where significant allelic associations were identified. Although no significant associations were observed in the other genes, several were identified in ADORA2A. The most significant association was observed at the rs9624472 locus, where the G allele (∼20% frequency) appeared to confer enhanced risk to severe malaria [OR = 1.22 (1.09–1.37); P = 0.001]. Further investigation of the ADORA2A gene region is required to validate the associations identified here, and to identify and functionally characterize the responsible causal variant(s). Our results provide further evidence supporting a role of the Gs signal transduction pathway in the regulation of severe malaria, and request further exploration of this pathway in future studies.     

Using NMR Metabolomics to Investigate Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle-dependent Signal Transduction in Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a skin-resident bacterium and a major cause of biomaterial-associated infections. The transition from residing on the skin to residing on an implanted biomaterial is accompanied by regulatory changes that facilitate bacterial survival in the new environment. These regulatory changes are dependent upon the ability of bacteria to “sense” environmental changes. In S. epidermidis, disparate environmental signals can affect synthesis of the biofilm matrix polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA). Previously, we demonstrated that PIA biosynthesis is regulated by tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity. The observations that very different environmental signals result in a common phenotype (i.e. increased PIA synthesis) and that TCA cycle activity regulates PIA biosynthesis led us to hypothesize that S. epidermidis is “sensing” disparate environmental signals through the modulation of TCA cycle activity. In this study, we used NMR metabolomics to demonstrate that divergent environmental signals are transduced into common metabolomic changes that are “sensed” by metabolite-responsive regulators, such as CcpA, to affect PIA biosynthesis. These data clarify one mechanism by which very different environmental signals cause common phenotypic changes. In addition, due to the frequency of the TCA cycle in diverse genera of bacteria and the intrinsic properties of TCA cycle enzymes, it is likely the TCA cycle acts as a signal transduction pathway in many bacteria.     

Signal Transduction by a Fungal NOD-Like Receptor Based on Propagation of a Prion Amyloid Fold

In the fungus Podospora anserina, the [Het-s] prion induces programmed cell death by activating the HET-S pore-forming protein. The HET-s β-solenoid prion fold serves as a template for converting the HET-S prion-forming domain into the same fold. This conversion, in turn, activates the HET-S pore-forming domain. The gene immediately adjacent to het-S encodes NWD2, a Nod-like receptor (NLR) with an N-terminal motif similar to the elementary repeat unit of the β-solenoid fold. NLRs are immune receptors controlling cell death and host defense processes in animals, plants and fungi. We have proposed that, analogously to [Het-s], NWD2 can activate the HET-S pore-forming protein by converting its prion-forming region into the β-solenoid fold. Here, we analyze the ability of NWD2 to induce formation of the β-solenoid prion fold. We show that artificial NWD2 variants induce formation of the [Het-s] prion, specifically in presence of their cognate ligands. The N-terminal motif is responsible for this prion induction, and mutations predicted to affect the β-solenoid fold abolish templating activity. In vitro, the N-terminal motif assembles into infectious prion amyloids that display a structure resembling the β-solenoid fold. In vivo, the assembled form of the NWD2 N-terminal region activates the HET-S pore-forming protein. This study documenting the role of the β-solenoid fold in fungal NLR function further highlights the general importance of amyloid and prion-like signaling in immunity-related cell fate pathways.     

过氧亚硝酸根与细胞信号转导

生物系统中产生的过氧亚硝酸根(peroxynitrite,ONOO-)具有强氧化性,能够损伤多种生物大分子,产生细胞毒性。细胞通过激活信号通路产生应激反应,其中包括蛋白质酪氨酸激酶(PTK)依赖的多种路径,而ONOO-通过硝化或氧化作用调节酪氨酸的磷酸化。酪氨酸残基的硝化能直接影响酪氨酸的磷酸化,而磷酸酶的氧化将导致酪氨酸磷酸化/去磷酸化平衡的改变,ONOO-激活细胞信号转导通路的作用机制对认识其生理病理功能具有重要意义。     

Notch信号转导与调控

Notch是一个进化上十分保守的跨膜受体蛋白家族,它可以通过与表达配体的相邻细胞间的相互作用转导信号,从而决定动物系统发育过程中多种细胞的“命运”.Notch信号转导过程包括Notch受体与配体的结合、Notch受体的酶切活化、可溶性NICD转移至细胞核并与CSL DNA结合蛋白相互作用,从而调控靶基因的表达.Notch活性水平、时间和空间分布受到包括配体、蛋白质转运、泛素化降解等多水平内源性和外源性诱导因素的调节.系统介绍了Notch信号转导通路的分子组成、Notch信号激活的生化机制、Notch信号的多水平调节以及与部分相关疾病的关系.     

光受体及光信号转导

植物在进化过程中形成了对环境信号反应的能力,光是植物生长发育中的一个重要的环境信号.植物为了更好地生长和发育形成了精密的光信号接收和转导系统.本文介绍近年来光信号接收即光受体和光信号的转导研究进展.     

生物膜信号转导与细胞凋亡

胞外信号可经过相应的转导途径传至胞内,通过激活靶分子而产生细胞效应.细胞凋亡是受控于生物体精确调节的细胞主动消亡过程,具有独特而复杂的信号系统.特异性的胞膜蛋白及膜脂等皆可介导凋亡相关分子的级联激活,并通过活化凋亡关键调节分子Caspases蛋白酶家族,bcl-2基因家族及线粒体等而影响凋亡的进程.     

光受体及光信号转导

植物在进化过程中形成了对环境信号反应的能力,光是植物生长发育中的一个重要的环境信号。植物为了更好地生长和发育形成了精密的光信号接收和转导系统。本文介绍近年来光信号接收即光受体和光信号的转导研究进展。     

赤霉素信号转导与植物的矮化

论述近年来在拟南芥、水稻等模式植物中赤霉素信号转导的研究进展。通过对赤霉素相关突变体的生理研究 ,鉴定出几个介入赤霉素信号转导过程的重要基因 ,并对这些基因的产物进行分析 ,根据相应的蛋白特征结构域 ,推导了它们可能具有的功能。利用双突变体 ,分析了这些基因的上下游关系 ,确定了在植物中 ,GA信号转导的几个途径。在此基础上提出了赤霉素信号转导的基本模式 :阻遏是GA信号转导过程中最基本的方式 ,GA信号通过去除阻遏作用来激活转导途径 ,从而调节GA相关的生长与发育。     

谷胱甘肽化修饰与氧化还原信号转导

蛋白质谷胱甘肽化（S-glutathionylation）是一种重要的翻译后修饰方式,氧化还原信号转导途径的很多相关分子都可受到谷胱甘肽化的调节,尤其是一些重要的蛋白激酶和转录因子。因此蛋白质的谷胱甘肽化修饰日益引起人们的重视。人们推测,谷胱甘肽化可能是细胞内氧化还原信号转导的一种重要机制。     

JNK信号转导与细胞凋亡

JNK是一类MAPK蛋白,介导细胞的信号转导,通过启动细胞中的胱天蛋白酶家族蛋白激酶,诱导细胞凋亡。本文主要就JNK信号转导在细胞凋亡中的作用及其机制进行阐述。     

Reconstruction of Cellular Signal Transduction Networks Using Perturbation Assays and Linear Programming

Perturbation experiments for example using RNA interference (RNAi) offer an attractive way to elucidate gene function in a high throughput fashion. The placement of hit genes in their functional context and the inference of underlying networks from such data, however, are challenging tasks. One of the problems in network inference is the exponential number of possible network topologies for a given number of genes. Here, we introduce a novel mathematical approach to address this question. We formulate network inference as a linear optimization problem, which can be solved efficiently even for large-scale systems. We use simulated data to evaluate our approach, and show improved performance in particular on larger networks over state-of-the art methods. We achieve increased sensitivity and specificity, as well as a significant reduction in computing time. Furthermore, we show superior performance on noisy data. We then apply our approach to study the intracellular signaling of human primary nave CD4⁺ T-cells, as well as ErbB signaling in trastuzumab resistant breast cancer cells. In both cases, our approach recovers known interactions and points to additional relevant processes. In ErbB signaling, our results predict an important role of negative and positive feedback in controlling the cell cycle progression.