Project description:To identify genes regulated by the homeodomain transcription factors Sxi1α and Sxi2a (Sex Inducer 1α and 2a) in Cryptococcus neoformans, we carried out a whole-genome expression experiment. We performed two independent whole-genome microarray experiments comparing transcript levels in cells that either possessed or were lacking the Sxi proteins. In the first experiment we compared the expression profile of a haploid sxi1αΔ strain to that of a haploid strain expressing both SXI1α and an inducible copy of SXI2a (Sxi +). In the second experiment, we compared the expression profile of a wild type cross (JEC20 x JEC21) to the expression profile of a cross whose mating partners did not possess either of the transcription factors (sxi2a∆ x sxi1α∆)(Sxi -). In both experiments RNA from each condition was harvested, labeled, and hybridized competitively to a spotted oligonucleotide microarray representing the approximately 6,500 genes in the C. neoformans genome. The resulting data was analyzed in Limma using standard methods.
Project description:WD40 motif-containing Msi1-like (MSIL) proteins play pleiotropic cellular functions as a negative regulator of the Ras/cAMP-pathways and a component of chromatin assembly factor-I (CAF-I), and yet have not been studied in fungal pathogens. Here we identified and characterized an MSIL protein, Msl1, in Cryptococcus neoformans, which can cause fatal meningoencephalitis in humans. Notably, Msl1 was not a functional ortholog for the yeast Msi1 but played pleiotropic roles in C. neoformans in both cAMP-dependent and -independent manners but mainly Ras-independently. Msl1 negatively controlled antioxidant melanin production and sexual differentiation, which can be repressed by inhibiting the cAMP-signaling pathways. In contrast, Msl1 controlled thermotolerance, diverse stress responses, and antifungal drugs resistance in Ras/cAMP-independent manners. Cac2, which is the second CAF-I component, appeared to play both redundant and distinct function with Msl1. Msl1 is required for full virulence of C. neoformans. Transcriptome and proteomic analysis identified a group of Msl1-regulated genes or -interacting proteins, respectively, which mostly include stress-related genes, including HSP12, HSP78, SSA1, SSA4, and STM1. Furthermore, we identified the third putative component of CAF-1, Rlf2, in C. neoformans. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the pleiotropic roles of Msl1 in human fungal pathogen C. neoformans, providing a novel antifungal therapeutic target. There is more than 95% genome homology between JEC21 and H99. Therefore, 6 slides of JEC21 (Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans serotype D) 70-mer oligos are used in this analysis. Total RNAs are extracted from 2 strains from H99 (H99 wild-type strain (Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii serotype A), msl1M-NM-^T). 3 biological replicate experiments are performed for each strain. We use the mix of all total RNAs from this experiment as the control RNA. We use Cy3 as the test sample dye and Cy5 as the control dye.
Project description:Cell-cycle transcript dynamics from two species of wild-type budding yeast growing at 30 degrees Celsius in rich media: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BF264-15D background) and Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (H99F background). We compared programs of cell-cycle-regulated genes between distantly related budding yeasts.
Project description:Transcriptome profiling of wild type and cfo1 mutant with fluconazole treatment in Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii H99 Purpose: The goals of this study are to compare cfo1 mutant transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) to wild-type with or without fluconazole treatment in Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii H99. Methods: mRNA profiles of wild-type and cfo1 mutant with or without fluconazole treatment were generated by RNA-Seq, using Illumina GAIIx. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were mapped to reference genome and the normalized RPKM values were calculated by CLC Genomics Workbench. Results: Compared to wild-type, a number of genes were differentially expressed in the cfo1 mutant, especially genes involved in iron homeostasis and transport, ergosterol biosynthesis, mitochondrial function and respiration. Conclusions: Our data suggested reduced expression of the genes in the respiratory chain is the main reason for altered antifungal sensitivity of the cfo1 mutant. The results of our study revealed that iron uptake plays a key role in fluconazole sensitivity of C. neoformans.
Project description:The goal of this study was to position all transcripts extremities in two species of Cryptococcus using TSS-Seq and QuantSeq 3' mRNA-Seq when cells are grown under different conditions. We analysed also the level of expression of each genes in the same condition using the same cell sample. All these data have spiked in using a fixed quantity of S. cereviae cells added just before DNA and RNA extraction.