Genome-wide functional analysis of phosphatases in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 24;11(1):4212. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18028-0.

Abstract

Phosphatases, together with kinases and transcription factors, are key components in cellular signalling networks. Here, we present a systematic functional analysis of the phosphatases in Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening fungal meningoencephalitis. We analyse 230 signature-tagged mutant strains for 114 putative phosphatases under 30 distinct in vitro growth conditions, revealing at least one function for 60 of these proteins. Large-scale virulence and infectivity assays using insect and mouse models indicate roles in pathogenicity for 31 phosphatases involved in various processes such as thermotolerance, melanin and capsule production, stress responses, O-mannosylation, or retromer function. Notably, phosphatases Xpp1, Ssu72, Siw14, and Sit4 promote blood-brain barrier adhesion and crossing by C. neoformans. Together with our previous systematic studies of transcription factors and kinases, our results provide comprehensive insight into the pathobiological signalling circuitry of C. neoformans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / pathogenicity
  • Female
  • Fungal Proteins / classification
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genome, Fungal / genetics*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods*
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / classification
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Phosphotransferases / classification
  • Phosphotransferases / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Thermotolerance / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / classification
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Phosphotransferases
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases