Capsule growth in Cryptococcus neoformans is coordinated with cell cycle progression.

ABSTRACT:

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The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has several virulence factors, among which the most important is a polysaccharide capsule. The size of the capsule is variable and can increase significantly during infection. In this work, we investigated the relationship between capsular enlargement and the cell cycle. Capsule growth occurred primarily during the G1 phase. Real-time visualization of capsule growth demonstrated that this process occurred before the appearance of the bud and that capsule growth arrested during budding. Benomyl, which arrests the cells in G2/M, inhibited capsule growth, while sirolimus (rapamycin) addition, which induces G1 arrest, resulted in cells with larger capsule. Furthermore, we have characterized a mutant strain that lacks a putative G1/

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Rodas R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4056547 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature