A novel bZIP protein, Gsb1, is required for oxidative stress response, mating, and virulence in the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformansopen access
- Authors
- Cheon, Seon Ah; Thak, Eun Jung; Bahn, Yong-Sun; Kang, Hyun Ah
- Issue Date
- Jun-2017
- Publisher
- NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
- Citation
- SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v.7, no.1
- Journal Title
- SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
- Volume
- 7
- Number
- 1
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/handle/2019.sw.cau/4323
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-017-04290-8
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- Abstract
- The human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, normally faces diverse stresses in the human host. Here, we report that a novel, basic, leucine-zipper (bZIP) protein, designated Gsb1 (general stress-related bZIP protein 1), is required for its normal growth and diverse stress responses. C. neoformans gsb1 Delta mutants grew slowly even under non-stressed conditions and showed increased sensitivity to high or low temperatures. The hypersensitivity of gsb1 Delta to oxidative and nitrosative stresses was reversed by addition of a ROS scavenger. RNA-Seq analysis during normal growth revealed increased expression of a number of genes involved in mitochondrial respiration and cell cycle, but decreased expression of several genes involved in the mating-pheromone-responsive MAPK signaling pathway. Accordingly, gsb1 Delta showed defective mating and abnormal cell-cycle progression. Reflecting these pleiotropic phenotypes, gsb1 Delta exhibited attenuated virulence in a murine model of cryptococcosis. Moreover, RNA-Seq analysis under oxidative stress revealed that several genes involved in ROS defense, cell-wall remodeling, and protein glycosylation were highly induced in the wild-type strain but not in gsb1 Delta. Gsb1 localized exclusively in the nucleus in response to oxidative stress. In conclusion, Gsb1 is a key transcription factor modulating growth, stress responses, differentiation, and virulence in C. neoformans.
- Files in This Item
-
- Appears in
Collections - College of Natural Sciences > Department of Life Science > 1. Journal Articles
![qrcode](https://api.qrserver.com/v1/create-qr-code/?size=55x55&data=https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/handle/2019.sw.cau/4323)
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.