A P4-ATPase subunit of the Cdc50 family plays a role in iron acquisition and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: The pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans delivers virulence factors such as capsule polysaccharide to the cell surface to cause disease in vertebrate hosts. In this study, we screened for mutants sensitive to the secretion inhibitor brefeldin A to identify secretory pathway components that contribute to virulence. We identified an ortholog of the cell division control protein 50 (Cdc50) family of the noncatalytic subunit of type IV P-type ATPases (flippases) that establish phospholipid asymmetry in membranes and function in vesicle-mediated trafficking. We found that a cdc50 mutant in C. neoformans was defective for survival in macrophages, attenuated for virulence in mice and impaired in iron acquisition. The mutant also showed increased sensitivity to drugs associated with phospholi

SUBMITTER: Hu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5429215 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature