Cryptococcus neoformans sexual reproduction is controlled by a quorum sensing peptide
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans
PROVIDER: GSE94091 | GEO | 2018/05/15
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Modes of sexual reproduction in eukaryotic organisms are highly diversified. The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans undergoes a phenotypic switch from the white to the opaque phase in order to become mating-competent. In this study, we report that functionally and morphologically differentiated white and opaque cells show a coordinating behavior in the process of mating. Although white cells are mating-incompetent, they are induced to produce sexual pheromones when treated with opposite pheromones or interacted with opaque cells of an opposite mating type. In a co-culture system, pheromones released by white cells induce opaque cells to form mating projections and thus facilitate both opposite- and same-sex mating of opaque cells. Deletion of genes encoding the pheromone precursor proteins and inactivation of the pheromone response signaling pathway (Ste2-MAPK-Cph1) impair the promoting role of white cells (MTLa) in sexual mating of opaque cells. White and opaque cells communicate via a paracrine pheromone signaling and thus create an environment conducive to sexual mating. This coordination behavior of the two different cell types may be a trade-off strategy between sexual and asexual lifestyles in C. albicans.
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