GEOapplication/xmlftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/series/GSE73nnn/GSE73203/primaryOK2000000GenomicsCryptococcus neoformansExpression profiling by high throughput sequencing; Genome binding/occupancy profiling by high throughput sequencinghttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE73203GEOGSE0falseConvergent evolution of peptide-based quorum sensing required for virulence in a eukaryotic pathogenBacterial quorum sensing (QS) systems are characterized by the regulated biogenesis and sensing of specialized signaling molecules. Here, we describe a peptide, Qsp1, secreted by the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Mutants lacking Qsp1 are attenuated for infection, pulmonary accumulation, and growth within macrophages. Qsp1 promotes density-dependent cell wall integrity and resistance to extreme environments. Qsp1 is also required for a secreted aspartyl protease activity required for virulence. Further biochemical and large-scale genetic investigations reveal that cleavage of Qsp1 from the C-terminal of a pro-peptide requires a cell-associated serine protease and Qsp1 sensing requires a predicted oligopeptide importer. Strikingly, these features closely mirror the hallmarks of a peptide-based QS system found in gram-positive bacteria, despite no ancestral relationship between individual components. Our studies thus reveal a convergently evolved, peptide-based QS system required for the virulence of a fungal pathogen.2016/06/08GSE73203GSM1888514GSM1919147GSM1888515GSM1919146GSM1919145GSM1888516GSM1888517GSM1919144GSM1888518GSM1919149GSM1919148GSM1919150GSM1888496GSM1888497GSM1888498GSM1888499GSM1919154GSM1888510GSM1919153GSM1888511GSM1888512GSM1919152GSM1919151GSM1888513GSM1888503GSM1919158GSM1919157GSM1888504GSM1919156GSM1888505GSM1888506GSM1919155GSM1888507GSM1888508GSM1888509GSM1919159GSM1919161GSM1919160GSM1919143GSM1919142GSM1888500GSM1919163GSM1919141GSM1888501GSM1888502GSM1919162GSM19191402107319081SRP06385773203Cryptococcus neoformans[27212659]