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- Title
Blue light negatively regulates the sexual filamentation via the Cwc1 and Cwc2 proteins inCryptococcus neoformans.
- Authors
Ying-Ku Lu; Kai-Hui Sun; Wei-Chiang Shen
- Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformansis a heterothallic basidiomycetous yeast that primarily infects immunocompromised individuals. Dikaryotic hyphae resulting from the fusion of theMATa andMATα mating type strains represent the filamentous stage in the sexual life cycle ofC. neoformans. In this study we demonstrate that the production of dikaryotic filaments is inhibited by blue light. To study blue light photoresponse inC. neoformans, we have identified and characterized two genes,CWC1andCWC2, which are homologous toNeurospora crassa wc-1andwc-2genes. Conserved domain analyses indicate that the functions of Cwc1 and Cwc2 proteins may be evolutionally conserved. To dissect their roles in the light response, theCWC1gene deletion mutants are created in both mating type strains. Mating filamentation in the bilateral cross ofcwc1 MATa andMATα strains is not sensitive to light. The results indicate that Cwc1 may be an essential regulator of light responses inC. neoformans. Furthermore, overexpression of theCWC1orCWC2gene requires light activation to inhibit sexual filamentation, suggesting both genes may function together in the early step of blue light signalling. Taken together, our findings illustrate blue light negatively regulates the sexual filamentation via the Cwc1 and Cwc2 proteins inC. neoformans.
- Subjects
CRYPTOCOCCUS; CRYPTOCOCCUS neoformans; BLUE light; MICROBIAL proteins; NEUROSPORA; EFFECT of light on reproduction; MICROBIAL genetics
- Publication
Molecular Microbiology, 2005, Vol 56, Issue 2, p480
- ISSN
0950-382X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04549.x