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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
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Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans
Published on: February 27, 2018
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Evolutionary divergence of an elongation factor 3 from Cryptococcus neoformans
G Blakely1, J Hekman, K Chakraburtty
1Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Journal of Bacteriology
|March 13, 2001
Summary
Elongation factor 3 (EF3) is crucial for fungal survival but differs between yeast types. This study identifies a functioning EF3 in Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing evolutionary divergence from ascomycete EF3.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Mycology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Elongation factor 3 (EF3) is essential for fungal protein synthesis and survival.
- EF3 is a potential antifungal drug target due to its absence in mammals.
- EF3 function is well-characterized in ascomycete yeasts but not basidiomycetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and characteristics of EF3 in the basidiomycete yeast Cryptococcus neoformans.
- To understand the evolutionary divergence of EF3 between fungal classes.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of the EF3 gene from Cryptococcus neoformans (CnEF3).
- Expression and characterization of CnEF3's ATPase activity.
- Analysis of CnEF3 binding affinity to cryptococcal and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomes.
- Functional complementation assays using yeast mutants.
Main Results:
- CnEF3 encodes a 1,055-amino-acid protein with 44% identity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae EF3 (YEF3).
- CnEF3 exhibits ATPase activity, modestly stimulated by S. cerevisiae ribosomes.
- CnEF3 binds tightly to cryptococcal ribosomes, resisting high salt concentrations that remove YEF3.
- CnEF3 poorly complements defects in S. cerevisiae EF3 mutants.
Conclusions:
- A functional EF3 exists in the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans.
- CnEF3 demonstrates distinct ribosomal binding and functional properties compared to ascomycete EF3.
- These findings highlight evolutionary divergence in EF3 across fungal species.
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