Gene expression analysis of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis transition from conidium to yeast cell

Med Mycol. 2010 Feb;48(1):147-54. doi: 10.3109/13693780903055673.

Abstract

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infectious process relies on the initial expression of virulence factors that are assumed to be controlled by molecular mechanisms through which the conidia and/or mycelial fragments convert to yeast cells. In order to analyze the profile of the thermally-induced dimorphic gene expression, 48 h C-L transition cultures which had been incubated at 36 degrees C were studied. By this time approximately 50% of the conidial population had already reverted to yeast form cells. At this transition time, an EST-Orestes library was constructed and characterized. As a result, 79 sequences were obtained, of which 39 (49.4%) had not been described previously in other libraries of this fungus and which could represent novel exclusive C-Y transition genes. Two of these sequences are, among others, cholestanol delta-isomerase, and electron transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinoneoxidoreductase (ETF-QO). The other 40/79 (50.6%) sequences were shared with Mycelia (M), Yeast (Y) or Mycelia to yest transition (M-Y) libraries. An important component of this group of sequences is a putative response regulator receiver SKN7, a protein of high importance in stress adaptation and a regulator of virulence in some bacteria and fungi. This is the first report identifying genes expressed during the C-Y transition process, the initial step required to understand the natural history of P. brasiliensis conidia induced infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fungal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Mycelium / genetics
  • Mycelium / growth & development
  • Mycelium / physiology
  • Paracoccidioides / genetics
  • Paracoccidioides / growth & development
  • Paracoccidioides / physiology*
  • Spores, Fungal / genetics
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology
  • Yeasts / genetics
  • Yeasts / growth & development
  • Yeasts / physiology

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins