A conserved C-terminal domain of the Aspergillus fumigatus developmental regulator MedA is required for nuclear localization, adhesion and virulence

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049959. Epub 2012 Nov 21.

Abstract

MedA is a developmental regulator that is conserved in the genome of most filamentous fungi. In the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus MedA regulates conidiogenesis, adherence to host cells, and pathogenicity. The mechanism by which MedA governs these phenotypes remains unknown. Although the nuclear import of MedA orthologues has been reported in other fungi, no nuclear localization signal, DNA-binding domain or other conserved motifs have been identified within MedA. In this work, we performed a deletion analysis of MedA and identified a novel domain within the C-terminal region of the protein, designated MedA(346-557), that is necessary and sufficient for nuclear localization of MedA. We further demonstrate that MedA nuclear localization is required for the function of MedA. Surprisingly, expression of the minimal nuclear localization fragment MedA(346-557) alone was sufficient to restore conidogenesis, biofilm formation and virulence to the medA mutant strain. Collectively these results suggest that MedA functions in the regulation of transcription, and that the MedA(346-557) domain is both necessary and sufficient to mediate MedA function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Aspergillus fumigatus* / genetics
  • Aspergillus fumigatus* / growth & development
  • Aspergillus fumigatus* / pathogenicity
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Fungal Proteins* / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Nuclear Localization Signals* / genetics
  • Nuclear Localization Signals* / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Spores, Fungal* / genetics
  • Spores, Fungal* / growth & development
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors