Aspergillus fumigatus survival in alkaline and extreme zinc-limiting environments relies on the induction of a zinc homeostasis system encoded by the zrfC and aspf2 genes.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus fumigatus has three zinc transporter-encoding genes whose expression is regulated by both pH and the environmental concentration of zinc. We have previously reported that the zrfA and zrfB genes of A. fumigatus are transcribed at higher levels and are required for fungal growth under acidic zinc-limiting conditions whereas they are dispensable for growth in neutral or alkaline zinc-limiting media. Here we report that the transporter of the zinc uptake system that functions in A. fumigatus growing in neutral or alkaline environments is encoded by zrfC. The transcription of zrfC occurs divergently with respect to the adjacent aspf2 gene, which encodes an immunodominant antigen secreted by A. fumigatus. The two genes-zrfC and aspf2-are required to different extents for fungal grow

SUBMITTER: Amich J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2837988 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature