Morphotype-specific effector functions of Cryptococcus neoformans PUM1

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 24:6:23638. doi: 10.1038/srep23638.

Abstract

The basidiomycete fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans requires the PUF protein, Pum1, for hyphal morphogenesis during sexual development. In this study we found that Pum1 was auto-repressive under growth as yeast, but that auto-repression was relieved during filamentous growth through utilization of an alternative transcription start site driven by the master filamentation regulator Znf2. In addition, Pum1 was required to stabilize the ZNF2 mRNA through an indirect mechanism suggesting that Znf2 and Pum1 each positively regulate the expression of the other to achieve the filamentous morphotype required for sexual development in Cryptococcus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / growth & development*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Hyphae / growth & development*
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA-Binding Proteins