Small molecules are components of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs), but their biological roles are only superficially known. NOP16 is a eukaryotic gene that is required for the activity of benzimidazoles against Cryptococcus deuterogattii. In this study, during the phenotypic characterization of C. deuterogattii mutants expected to lack NOP16 expression, we observed a reduced EV production. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA-Seq, and cellular proteomics revealed that, contrary to our initial findings, these mutants expressed Nop16 but exhibited altered expression of 14 genes potentially involved in sugar transport. Based on this observation, we designated these mutant strains as Past1 and Past2, representing
Keywords: Cryptococcus; extracellular vesicles.