the temperature-sensitive role of cryptococcus neoformans rom2 in cell morphogenesis新型隐球菌的热敏作用rom2在细胞形态发生.pdfVIP

The Temperature-Sensitive Role of Cryptococcus neoformans ROM2 in Cell Morphogenesis Beth Burgwyn Fuchs, Robin J. Tang, Eleftherios Mylonakis* Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America ROM2 is associated with Cryptococcus neoformans virulence. We examined additional roles of ROM2 in C. neoformans and found that ROM2 plays a role in several cell functions specifically at high temperature conditions. Morphologically rom2 mutant cells demonstrated a ‘‘tear’’-like shape and clustered together. A sub-population of cells had a hyperelongated phenotype at restrictive growth conditions. Altered morphology was associated with defects in actin that was concentrated at the cell periphery and with abnormalities in microtubule organization. Interestingly, the ROM2 associated defects in cell morphology, location of nuclei, and actin and microtubule organization were not observed in cells grown at temperatures below 37uC. These results indicate that in C. neoformans, ROM2 is important at restrictive temperature conditions and is involved in several cell maintenance functions. Citation: Fuchs BB, Tang RJ, Mylonakis E (2007) The Temperature-Sensitive Role of Cryptococcus neoformans ROM2 in Cell Morphogenesis. PLoS ONE 2(4): e368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000368 INTRODUCTION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Cryptococcal infection caused by the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus ROM2 is involved in C. neoformans morphogenesis neoformans is a global cause of significant morbidity and mortality An evaluation of the cell morphology at 30uC and 37uC growth [1]. Predisposing factors include HIV-infection, lymphoprolifera- temperatures established KN99a rom2 has a morphological