RESUMEN
Alternative transcription start site (TSS) usage regulation has been identified as a major means of gene expression regulation in metazoans. However, in fungi, its impact remains elusive as its study has thus far been restricted to model yeasts. Here, we first re-analyzed TSS-seq data to define genuine TSS clusters in 2 species of pathogenic Cryptococcus. We identified 2 types of TSS clusters associated with specific DNA sequence motifs. Our analysis also revealed that alternative TSS usage regulation in response to environmental cues is widespread in Cryptococcus, altering gene expression and protein targeting. Importantly, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify a unique transcription factor (TF) named Tur1, which regulates alternative TSS (altTSS) usage genome-wide when cells switch from exponential phase to stationary phase. ChiP-Seq and DamID-Seq analyses suggest that at some loci, the role of Tur1 might be direct. Tur1 has been previously shown to be essential for virulence in C. neoformans. We demonstrated here that a tur1Δ mutant strain is more sensitive to superoxide stress and phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages than the wild-type (WT) strain.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Fúngicas , Regulación Fúngica de la Expresión Génica , Genoma Fúngico , Factores de Transcripción , Sitio de Iniciación de la Transcripción , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Proteínas Fúngicas/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/genética , Cryptococcus/genética , Cryptococcus/patogenicidad , Cryptococcus/metabolismo , Cryptococcus neoformans/genética , Cryptococcus neoformans/patogenicidad , Cryptococcus neoformans/metabolismo , Macrófagos/microbiología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Animales , Ratones , Virulencia/genética , Fagocitosis/genéticaRESUMEN
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified in diverse fungi, including human pathogens. In this protocol, we present two techniques for isolating and analyzing fungal EVs. The first is for high-throughput screening, and the second is for yielding concentrated samples suitable for centrifugation-based density gradients. We describe steps for analytical assays such as nano-flow cytometry and nanoparticle tracking analysis to measure EV dimensions and concentration. EV suspensions can serve diverse assays, including electron microscopy, compositional determination, and cell-to-cell communication assays. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Rizzo et al.,1 Rizzo et al.,2 Reis et al.,3 and Reis et al.4.