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Ras signalling in pathogenic yeasts

Daniel R Pentland1, Elliot Piper-Brown1, Fritz A Mühlschlegel1,2

  • 1Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom, CT2 7NJ.

Microbial Cell (Graz, Austria)
|February 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Ras proteins regulate fungal growth and virulence. Targeting unique fungal Ras sequences offers a promising strategy for developing new antifungal therapies against resistant pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Mycology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Ras proteins are small GTPases crucial for eukaryotic cell regulation, including growth, stress response, and cell death.
  • Constitutive forms of Ras proteins are oncogenic, underscoring the importance of Ras activity control.
  • Ras plays a significant role in fungal pathogen virulence, regulating adaptations necessary for infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of Ras protein function and signaling in major human yeast pathogens, *Candida albicans* and *Cryptococcus neoformans*.
  • To discuss the potential of targeting Ras as a novel approach for antifungal therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on Ras protein function in fungal pathogens.
  • Analysis of conserved and non-conserved regulatory sequences within fungal Ras proteins.

Main Results:

  • Ras is essential for virulence in key fungal pathogens like *Candida albicans* and *Cryptococcus neoformans*.
  • Non-conserved regulatory sequences in fungal Ras proteins present potential targets for drug development.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting Ras offers a promising avenue for novel antifungal therapies, particularly given rising antifungal resistance.
  • Exploiting unique fungal Ras features may lead to the development of effective treatments against invasive fungal infections.
Keywords:
C. albicansC. neoformansRas signallingbiofilmmorphogenesispathogenicity

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