Molecular and celluler signaling of hypoxic adaptation in the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590518
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including Mycology)
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: KAWAMOTO Susumu 千葉大学, 真菌医学研究センター, 教授 (80125921)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HAGIWARA Daisuke 千葉大学, 真菌医学研究センター, 特任助教 (20612203)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 真菌 / クリプトコックス / 感染症 / 細胞周期 / 低酸素応答 / 環境適応 / G２-アレスト / 転写因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Limited aeration has been demonstrated to cause slowdown in proliferation and delayed budding, resulting eventually in a unique unbudded G2-arrest in the obligate aerobic pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Also, the ability to adapt to decreased oxygen levels during pathogenesis has been identified as a virulence factor in C. neoformans. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize genes that are necessary for the proliferation slowdown and G2-arrest caused by limited aeration.　 This gene was identified as homologous both to calcineurin responsive (Crz1) and PKC1-dependent (Sp1-like) transcription factors. Our data demonstrate a tight molecular link between slowdown of proliferation during hypoxic adaptation and maintenance of cell integrity in C. neoformans and present a new role for the Crz1 family of transcription factors in fungi.

Free Research Field

分子細胞医真菌学