Document Detail


UDP-glucose dehydrogenase plays multiple roles in the biology of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15383535     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus surrounded by an elaborate polysaccharide capsule that is strictly required for its virulence in humans and other mammals. Nearly half of the sugar residues in the capsule are derived from UDP-glucuronic acid or its metabolites. To examine the role of these nucleotide sugars in C. neoformans, the gene encoding UDP-glucose dehydrogenase was disrupted. Mass spectrometry analysis of nucleotide sugar pools showed that the resulting mutant lacked both UDP-glucuronic acid and its downstream product, UDP-xylose, thus confirming the effect of the knockout and indicating that an alternate pathway for UDP-glucuronic acid production was not used. The mutant was dramatically affected by the lack of specific sugar donors, demonstrating altered cell integrity, temperature sensitivity, lack of growth in an animal model of cryptococcosis, and morphological defects. Additionally, the polysaccharide capsule could not be detected on the mutant cells, although the possibility remains that abbreviated forms of capsule components are made, possibly without proper surface display. The capsule defect is largely independent of the other observed changes, as cells that are acapsular because of mutations in other genes show lack of virulence but do not exhibit alterations in cell integrity, temperature sensitivity, or cellular morphology. All of the observed alterations were reversed by correction of the gene disruption.
Authors:
Cara L Griffith; J Stacey Klutts; Lijuan Zhang; Steven B Levery; Tamara L Doering
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.     Date:  2004-09-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of biological chemistry     Volume:  279     ISSN:  0021-9258     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Biol. Chem.     Publication Date:  2004 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-11-25     Completed Date:  2005-01-11     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985121R     Medline TA:  J Biol Chem     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  51669-76     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
Cell Membrane / metabolism
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Coloring Agents / pharmacology
Cryptococcus neoformans / physiology*
DNA / chemistry
Genetic Complementation Test
Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
Immunoblotting
Mass Spectrometry
Microscopy, Electron
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Microscopy, Interference
Models, Genetic
Mutation
Nucleotides / chemistry
Polysaccharides / chemistry
Protein Binding
Temperature
Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase / genetics*,  physiology*
Uridine Diphosphate Xylose / chemistry
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
GM F32 072341/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; GM R01 066303/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; GM R01 069968/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; P20 RR16459/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antibodies, Monoclonal; 0/Coloring Agents; 0/Nucleotides; 0/Polysaccharides; 3616-06-6/Uridine Diphosphate Xylose; 576-37-4/Glucuronic Acid; 9007-49-2/DNA; EC 1.1.1.22/Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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