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A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hsueh, Y-P; Xue, C; Heitman, J
Published in: EMBO J
May 6, 2009

Sex in fungi is driven by peptide pheromones sensed through seven-transmembrane pheromone receptors. In Cryptococcus neoformans, sexual reproduction occurs through an outcrossing/heterothallic a- sexual cycle or an inbreeding/homothallic - unisexual mating process. Pheromone receptors encoded by the mating-type locus (MAT) mediate reciprocal pheromone sensing during opposite-sex mating and contribute to but are not essential for unisexual mating. A pheromone receptor-like gene, CPR2, was discovered that is not encoded by MAT and whose expression is induced during a- mating. cpr2 mutants are fertile but have a fusion defect and produce abnormal hyphal structures, whereas CPR2 overexpression elicits unisexual reproduction. When heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cpr2 activates pheromone responses in the absence of any ligand. This constitutive activity results from an unconventional residue, Leu(222), in place of a conserved proline in transmembrane domain six; a Cpr2(L222P) mutant is no longer constitutively active. Cpr2 engages the same G-protein activated signalling cascade as the Ste3a/alpha pheromone receptors, and thereby competes for pathway activation. This study established a new paradigm in which a naturally occurring constitutively active G protein-coupled receptor governs morphogenesis in fungi.

Duke Scholars

Published In

EMBO J

DOI

EISSN

1460-2075

Publication Date

May 6, 2009

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1220 / 1233

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Signal Transduction
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • RGS Proteins
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Binding
  • Pheromones
  • Models, Biological
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Immunoblotting
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Hsueh, Y.-P., Xue, C., & Heitman, J. (2009). A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans. EMBO J, 28(9), 1220–1233. https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2009.68
Hsueh, Yen-Ping, Chaoyang Xue, and Joseph Heitman. “A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans.EMBO J 28, no. 9 (May 6, 2009): 1220–33. https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2009.68.
Hsueh Y-P, Xue C, Heitman J. A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans. EMBO J. 2009 May 6;28(9):1220–33.
Hsueh, Yen-Ping, et al. “A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans.EMBO J, vol. 28, no. 9, May 2009, pp. 1220–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/emboj.2009.68.
Hsueh Y-P, Xue C, Heitman J. A constitutively active GPCR governs morphogenic transitions in Cryptococcus neoformans. EMBO J. 2009 May 6;28(9):1220–1233.

Published In

EMBO J

DOI

EISSN

1460-2075

Publication Date

May 6, 2009

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1220 / 1233

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Signal Transduction
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • RGS Proteins
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Binding
  • Pheromones
  • Models, Biological
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Immunoblotting