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A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nichols, CB; Perfect, ZH; Alspaugh, JA
Published in: Mol Microbiol
February 2007

Pathogenic microorganisms must precisely regulate morphogenesis to survive and proliferate within an infected host. This regulation is often controlled by conserved signal transduction pathways that direct morphological changes in varied species. One such pathway, whose components include Ras proteins and the PAK kinase Ste20, allows the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans to grow at high temperature. Previously, we found that Ras1 signalling is required for differentiation, thermotolerance and pathogenesis in C. neoformans. We show here that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Cdc24 is a Ras1 effector in C. neoformans to mediate the ability of this fungus to grow at high temperature and to cause disease. In addition, we provide evidence that the Ras1-Cdc24 signalling cascade functions specifically through one of the three Cdc42/Rac1 homologues in C. neoformans. In conclusion, our studies illustrate how components of conserved signalling cascades can be specialized for different downstream functions, such as pathogenesis.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mol Microbiol

DOI

ISSN

0950-382X

Publication Date

February 2007

Volume

63

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1118 / 1130

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • ras Proteins
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Temperature
  • Spleen
  • Signal Transduction
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mutation
  • Microbiology
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice
 

Citation

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MLA
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Nichols, C. B., Perfect, Z. H., & Alspaugh, J. A. (2007). A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol, 63(4), 1118–1130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05566.x
Nichols, Connie B., Zahra H. Perfect, and J Andrew Alspaugh. “A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.Mol Microbiol 63, no. 4 (February 2007): 1118–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05566.x.
Nichols CB, Perfect ZH, Alspaugh JA. A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol. 2007 Feb;63(4):1118–30.
Nichols, Connie B., et al. “A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.Mol Microbiol, vol. 63, no. 4, Feb. 2007, pp. 1118–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05566.x.
Nichols CB, Perfect ZH, Alspaugh JA. A Ras1-Cdc24 signal transduction pathway mediates thermotolerance in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol. 2007 Feb;63(4):1118–1130.
Journal cover image

Published In

Mol Microbiol

DOI

ISSN

0950-382X

Publication Date

February 2007

Volume

63

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1118 / 1130

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • ras Proteins
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Temperature
  • Spleen
  • Signal Transduction
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mutation
  • Microbiology
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice