Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>

F-box protein is a key protein of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, responsible for substrate recognition and degradation through specific interactions. Previous studies have shown that F-box proteins play crucial roles in <i>Cryptococcus</i> sexual reproduction. However, the molecula...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liantao Han, Yujuan Wu, Sichu Xiong, Tongbao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/7/699
_version_ 1797588724856389632
author Liantao Han
Yujuan Wu
Sichu Xiong
Tongbao Liu
author_facet Liantao Han
Yujuan Wu
Sichu Xiong
Tongbao Liu
author_sort Liantao Han
collection DOAJ
description F-box protein is a key protein of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, responsible for substrate recognition and degradation through specific interactions. Previous studies have shown that F-box proteins play crucial roles in <i>Cryptococcus</i> sexual reproduction. However, the molecular mechanism by which F-box proteins regulate sexual reproduction in <i>C. neoformans</i> is unclear. In the study, we discovered the AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase Ade16 as a substrate of Fbp1. Through protein interaction and stability experiments, we demonstrated that Ade16 is a substrate for Fbp1. To examine the role of <i>ADE16</i> in <i>C. neoformans</i>, we constructed the i<i>ADE16</i> strains and <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains to analyze the function of Ade16. Our results revealed that the i<i>ADE16</i> strains had a smaller capsule and showed growth defects under NaCl, while the <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains were sensitive to SDS but not to Congo red, which is consistent with the stress phenotype of the <i>fbp1</i>Δ strains, indicating that the intracellular protein expression level after <i>ADE16</i> overexpression was similar to that after <i>FBP1</i> deletion. Interestingly, although i<i>ADE16</i> strains can produce basidiospores normally, <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains can produce mating mycelia but not basidiospores after mating, which is consistent with the <i>fbp1</i>Δmutant strains, suggesting that Fbp1 is likely to regulate the sexual reproduction of <i>C. neoformans</i> through the modulation of Ade16. A fungal nuclei development assay showed that the nuclei of the <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains failed to fuse in the bilateral mating, indicating that Ade16 plays a crucial role in the regulation of meiosis during mating. In summary, our findings have revealed a new determinant factor involved in fungal development related to the post-translational regulation of AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T00:56:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ce37eea6e1614361b4935072fab01c6d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2309-608X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T00:56:05Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Fungi
spelling doaj.art-ce37eea6e1614361b4935072fab01c6d2023-11-18T20:01:05ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-06-019769910.3390/jof9070699Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>Liantao Han0Yujuan Wu1Sichu Xiong2Tongbao Liu3State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University Medical Research Institute, Chongqing 400715, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University Medical Research Institute, Chongqing 400715, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University Medical Research Institute, Chongqing 400715, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University Medical Research Institute, Chongqing 400715, ChinaF-box protein is a key protein of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, responsible for substrate recognition and degradation through specific interactions. Previous studies have shown that F-box proteins play crucial roles in <i>Cryptococcus</i> sexual reproduction. However, the molecular mechanism by which F-box proteins regulate sexual reproduction in <i>C. neoformans</i> is unclear. In the study, we discovered the AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase Ade16 as a substrate of Fbp1. Through protein interaction and stability experiments, we demonstrated that Ade16 is a substrate for Fbp1. To examine the role of <i>ADE16</i> in <i>C. neoformans</i>, we constructed the i<i>ADE16</i> strains and <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains to analyze the function of Ade16. Our results revealed that the i<i>ADE16</i> strains had a smaller capsule and showed growth defects under NaCl, while the <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains were sensitive to SDS but not to Congo red, which is consistent with the stress phenotype of the <i>fbp1</i>Δ strains, indicating that the intracellular protein expression level after <i>ADE16</i> overexpression was similar to that after <i>FBP1</i> deletion. Interestingly, although i<i>ADE16</i> strains can produce basidiospores normally, <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains can produce mating mycelia but not basidiospores after mating, which is consistent with the <i>fbp1</i>Δmutant strains, suggesting that Fbp1 is likely to regulate the sexual reproduction of <i>C. neoformans</i> through the modulation of Ade16. A fungal nuclei development assay showed that the nuclei of the <i>ADE16</i><sup>OE</sup> strains failed to fuse in the bilateral mating, indicating that Ade16 plays a crucial role in the regulation of meiosis during mating. In summary, our findings have revealed a new determinant factor involved in fungal development related to the post-translational regulation of AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/7/699<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>sexual reproductionF-box protein Fbp1AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolaseAde16
spellingShingle Liantao Han
Yujuan Wu
Sichu Xiong
Tongbao Liu
Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
Journal of Fungi
<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
sexual reproduction
F-box protein Fbp1
AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase
Ade16
title Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
title_full Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
title_fullStr Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
title_full_unstemmed Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
title_short Ubiquitin Degradation of the AICAR Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Ade16 Regulates the Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
title_sort ubiquitin degradation of the aicar transformylase imp cyclohydrolase ade16 regulates the sexual reproduction of i cryptococcus neoformans i
topic <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>
sexual reproduction
F-box protein Fbp1
AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase
Ade16
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/7/699
work_keys_str_mv AT liantaohan ubiquitindegradationoftheaicartransformylaseimpcyclohydrolaseade16regulatesthesexualreproductionoficryptococcusneoformansi
AT yujuanwu ubiquitindegradationoftheaicartransformylaseimpcyclohydrolaseade16regulatesthesexualreproductionoficryptococcusneoformansi
AT sichuxiong ubiquitindegradationoftheaicartransformylaseimpcyclohydrolaseade16regulatesthesexualreproductionoficryptococcusneoformansi
AT tongbaoliu ubiquitindegradationoftheaicartransformylaseimpcyclohydrolaseade16regulatesthesexualreproductionoficryptococcusneoformansi