Intracellular Action of a Secreted Peptide Required for Fungal Virulence.
Cell Host Microbe
; 19(6): 849-64, 2016 Jun 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27212659
ABSTRACT
Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication mechanism in which secreted signaling molecules impact population function and gene expression. QS-like phenomena have been reported in eukaryotes with largely unknown contributing molecules, functions, and mechanisms. We identify Qsp1, a secreted peptide, as a central signaling molecule that regulates virulence in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. QSP1 is a direct target of three transcription factors required for virulence, and qsp1Δ mutants exhibit attenuated infection, slowed tissue accumulation, and greater control by primary macrophages. Qsp1 mediates autoregulatory signaling that modulates secreted protease activity and promotes cell wall function at high cell densities. Peptide production requires release from a secreted precursor, proQsp1, by a cell-associated protease, Pqp1. Qsp1 sensing requires an oligopeptide transporter, Opt1, and remarkably, cytoplasmic expression of mature Qsp1 complements multiple phenotypes of qsp1Δ. Thus, C. neoformans produces an autoregulatory peptide that matures extracellularly but functions intracellularly to regulate virulence.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras
/
Criptococose
/
Cryptococcus neoformans
/
Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular
/
Fatores de Virulência
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell Host Microbe
Assunto da revista:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos