Characterization of the Pneumocystis jirovecii and Pneumocystis murina phosphoglucomutases (Pgm2s): a potential target for Pneumocystis therapy.

ABSTRACT: Pneumocystis cyst life forms contain abundant β-glucan carbohydrates, synthesized using β-1,3 and β-1,6 glucan synthase enzymes and the donor uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose. In yeast, phosphoglucomutase (PGM) plays a crucial role in carbohydrate metabolism by interconverting glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate, a vital step in UDP pools for β-glucan cell wall formation. This pathway has not yet been defined in Pneumocystis. Herein, we surveyed the Pneumocystis jirovecii and Pneumocystis murina genomes, which predicted a homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae major PGM enzyme. Furthermore, we show that PjPgm2p and PmPgm2p function similarly to the yeast counterpart. When both Pneumocystis pgm2 homologs are heterologously expressed in

SUBMITTER: Kottom TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10916394 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature