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Regulated Forms of Cell Death in Fungi

A Pedro Gonçalves1, Jens Heller1, Asen Daskalov1

  • 1Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|October 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Fungal programmed cell death (PCD) is a regulated process crucial for development, reproduction, and defense. Calcium signaling and conserved molecular pathways highlight its complex role in fungal life cycles and interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental biological process observed across all domains of life.
  • Fungi, like other eukaryotes, exhibit PCD in response to various internal and external stimuli, including stress, development, and non-self recognition.
  • Calcium ion (Ca2+) redistribution is increasingly recognized as a critical signaling event in fungal PCD pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current research on programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms in fungi.
  • To compare fungal PCD pathways with those characterized in metazoans, highlighting conserved and divergent features.
  • To elucidate the role of PCD in fungal development, reproduction, stress response, and heterokaryon incompatibility (HI).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on fungal PCD.
  • Comparative analysis of molecular players and signaling pathways involved in fungal PCD versus metazoan PCD.
  • Identification and discussion of key regulators of fungal PCD.

Main Results:

  • Fungal PCD is implicated in diverse life cycle events, including sexual and asexual reproduction, aging, and pathogenesis.
  • Heterokaryon incompatibility (HI), a fungal non-self recognition mechanism, involves PCD with molecular components similar to innate immunity in other eukaryotes.
  • Calcium signaling plays a pivotal role in mediating fungal PCD in response to various triggers.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal PCD is a multifaceted process essential for fungal survival, development, and ecological interactions.
  • The study of fungal PCD offers insights into conserved cell death mechanisms and potential targets for antifungal strategies.
  • Further research into fungal PCD pathways, particularly calcium signaling and HI, is warranted to fully understand its biological significance.
Keywords:
BCL-2 familyNLRROScalciumfilamentous fungimetacaspasesprogrammed cell death

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