Gluconate Kinase Is Required for Gluconate Assimilation and Sporulation in Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental yeast and an opportunistic human pathogen. The ability to cause disease depends on the ability to adapt to the human host. Previous studies implicated infectivity-related kinase 3 (IRK3, CNAG_03048) as required for establishing an infection. We genetically and biochemically characterized IRK3 as a gluconate kinase and propose the name GNK1. This metabolic enzyme utilizes gluconate to produce 6-phosphogluconate as part of the alternative oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (AOXPPP). The presence of GNK1 confirms that the AOXPPP is present and able to compensate for loss of the traditional OXPPP, providing an explanation for its nonessentiality. C. neoformans can utilize gluconate

SUBMITTER: Jezewski AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9045243 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature