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Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kingsbury, JM; Goldstein, AL; McCusker, JH
Published in: Eukaryot Cell
May 2006

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is both an emerging opportunistic pathogen and a close relative of pathogenic Candida species. To better understand the ecology of fungal infection, we investigated the importance of pathways involved in uptake, metabolism, and biosynthesis of nitrogen and carbon compounds for survival of a clinical S. cerevisiae strain in a murine host. Potential nitrogen sources in vivo include ammonium, urea, and amino acids, while potential carbon sources include glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and fatty acids. Using mutants unable to either transport or utilize these compounds, we demonstrated that no individual nitrogen source was essential, while glucose was the most significant primary carbon source for yeast survival in vivo. Hydrolysis of the storage carbohydrate glycogen made a slight contribution for in vivo survival compared with a substantial requirement for trehalose hydrolysis. The ability to sense and respond to low glucose concentrations was also important for survival. In contrast, there was little or no requirement in vivo in this assay for any of the nitrogen-sensing pathways, nitrogen catabolite repression, the ammonium- or amino acid-sensing pathways, or general control. By using auxotrophic mutants, we found that some nitrogenous compounds (polyamines, methionine, and lysine) can be acquired from the host, while others (threonine, aromatic amino acids, isoleucine, and valine) must be synthesized by the pathogen. Our studies provide insights into the yeast-host environment interaction and identify potential antifungal drug targets.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Eukaryot Cell

DOI

ISSN

1535-9778

Publication Date

May 2006

Volume

5

Issue

5

Start / End Page

816 / 824

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Urea
  • Trehalose
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Polyamines
  • Nitrogen
  • Mycoses
  • Microbiology
  • Mice
 

Citation

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Kingsbury, J. M., Goldstein, A. L., & McCusker, J. H. (2006). Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo. Eukaryot Cell, 5(5), 816–824. https://doi.org/10.1128/EC.5.5.816-824.2006
Kingsbury, Joanne M., Alan L. Goldstein, and John H. McCusker. “Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo.Eukaryot Cell 5, no. 5 (May 2006): 816–24. https://doi.org/10.1128/EC.5.5.816-824.2006.
Kingsbury JM, Goldstein AL, McCusker JH. Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo. Eukaryot Cell. 2006 May;5(5):816–24.
Kingsbury, Joanne M., et al. “Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo.Eukaryot Cell, vol. 5, no. 5, May 2006, pp. 816–24. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/EC.5.5.816-824.2006.
Kingsbury JM, Goldstein AL, McCusker JH. Role of nitrogen and carbon transport, regulation, and metabolism genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae survival in vivo. Eukaryot Cell. 2006 May;5(5):816–824.

Published In

Eukaryot Cell

DOI

ISSN

1535-9778

Publication Date

May 2006

Volume

5

Issue

5

Start / End Page

816 / 824

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Urea
  • Trehalose
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Polyamines
  • Nitrogen
  • Mycoses
  • Microbiology
  • Mice