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Membrane fluidity determines sensitivity of filamentous fungi to chitosan

J Palma-Guerrero1, J A Lopez-Jimenez, A J Pérez-Berná

  • 1Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) Ramón Margalef, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, E-03080 Alicante, Spain. jpalma@ua.es

Molecular Microbiology
|May 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Chitosan

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry
  • Antimicrobial Research

Background:

  • The antifungal mechanism of chitosan remains poorly understood despite decades of research.
  • Fungal plasma membrane properties influence sensitivity to chitosan.
  • Chitosan resistance may be linked to specific fungal lifestyles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the antifungal mode of action of chitosan.
  • To investigate the role of plasma membrane composition and fluidity in fungal chitosan sensitivity.
  • To explore evolutionary aspects of chitosan resistance in fungi.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of plasma membrane fatty acid composition in sensitive and resistant fungi.
  • Utilizing a fatty acid desaturase mutant of Neurospora crassa to assess membrane fluidity effects.
  • Employing fluorescence anisotropy measurements on artificial membranes to study chitosan-membrane interactions.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of fungal species based on known chitosan sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • Plasma membrane acts as a barrier in chitosan-resistant fungi but not sensitive ones.
  • Chitosan-sensitive fungi possess more polyunsaturated fatty acids, correlating with higher membrane fluidity.
  • Reduced membrane fluidity in a Neurospora crassa mutant increased chitosan resistance.
  • Chitosan binding to phospholipids alters membrane fluidity and induces permeabilization, especially in fluid membranes.
  • Chitosan resistance likely evolved in fungi that interact with arthropods and nematodes.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal plasma membrane fluidity is a key determinant of chitosan sensitivity.
  • Plasma membrane composition can predict fungal sensitivity to chitosan.
  • Increasing membrane fluidity presents a potential strategy to enhance antifungal efficacy of chitosan.

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