Septins enforce morphogenetic events during sexual reproduction and contribute to virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: Septins are conserved, cytoskeletal GTPases that contribute to cytokinesis, exocytosis, cell surface organization and vesicle fusion by mechanisms that are poorly understood. Roles of septins in morphogenesis and virulence of a human pathogen and basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated. In contrast to a well-established paradigm in S. cerevisiae, Cdc3 and Cdc12 septin homologues are dispensable for growth in C. neoformans yeast cells at 24 degrees C but are essential at 37 degrees C. In a bilateral cross between septin mutants, cells fuse but the resulting hyphae exhibit morphological abnormalities, including lack of properly fused specialized clamp cells and failure to produce spores. Interestingly, post-mating hyphae of the septin mutants have a defect in nuclear

SUBMITTER: Kozubowski L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3699866 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature