Interaction of Cryptococcus neoformans Rim101 and protein kinase A regulates capsule.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is a prevalent human fungal pathogen that must survive within various tissues in order to establish a human infection. We have identified the C. neoformans Rim101 transcription factor, a highly conserved pH-response regulator in many fungal species. The rim101 multiply sign in circle mutant strain displays growth defects similar to other fungal species in the presence of alkaline pH, increased salt concentrations, and iron limitation. However, the rim101 multiply sign in circle strain is also characterized by a striking defect in capsule, an important virulence-associated phenotype. This capsular defect is likely due to alterations in polysaccharide attachment to the cell surface, not in polysaccharide biosynthesis. In contrast to many other C. neoformans capsule-de

SUBMITTER: O'Meara TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824755 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature