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The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wang, P; Perfect, JR; Heitman, J
Published in: Mol Cell Biol
January 2000

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen with a defined sexual cycle. The gene encoding a heterotrimeric G-protein beta subunit, GPB1, was cloned and disrupted. gpb1 mutant strains are sterile, indicating a role for this gene in mating. GPB1 plays an active role in mediating responses to pheromones in early mating steps (conjugation tube formation and cell fusion) and signals via a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade in both MATalpha and MATa cells. The functions of GPB1 are distinct from those of the Galpha protein GPA1, which functions in a nutrient-sensing cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathway required for mating, virulence factor induction, and virulence. gpb1 mutant strains are also defective in monokaryotic fruiting in response to nitrogen starvation. We show that MATa cells stimulate monokaryotic fruiting of MATalpha cells, possibly in response to mating pheromone, which may serve to disperse cells and spores to locate mating partners. In summary, the Gbeta subunit GPB1 and the Galpha subunit GPA1 function in distinct signaling pathways: one (GPB1) senses pheromones and regulates mating and haploid fruiting via a MAP kinase cascade, and the other (GPA1) senses nutrients and regulates mating, virulence factors, and pathogenicity via a cAMP cascade.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mol Cell Biol

DOI

ISSN

0270-7306

Publication Date

January 2000

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

352 / 362

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Signal Transduction
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans
  • Amino Acid Sequence
 

Citation

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Wang, P., Perfect, J. R., & Heitman, J. (2000). The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Cell Biol, 20(1), 352–362. https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.20.1.352-362.2000
Wang, P., J. R. Perfect, and J. Heitman. “The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans.Mol Cell Biol 20, no. 1 (January 2000): 352–62. https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.20.1.352-362.2000.
Wang P, Perfect JR, Heitman J. The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Cell Biol. 2000 Jan;20(1):352–62.
Wang, P., et al. “The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans.Mol Cell Biol, vol. 20, no. 1, Jan. 2000, pp. 352–62. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/MCB.20.1.352-362.2000.
Wang P, Perfect JR, Heitman J. The G-protein beta subunit GPB1 is required for mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Cell Biol. 2000 Jan;20(1):352–362.

Published In

Mol Cell Biol

DOI

ISSN

0270-7306

Publication Date

January 2000

Volume

20

Issue

1

Start / End Page

352 / 362

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Signal Transduction
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans
  • Amino Acid Sequence