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Inhibition of protein kinase A affects Paracoccidioides lutzii dimorphism

Sheila J Sestari1, Wesley A Brito2, Bruno J Neves3

  • 1Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|March 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity increases during the crucial mycelium-to-yeast transition in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides lutzii. Inhibiting PKA blocks this dimorphic switch, highlighting PKA

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Pathogenic Fungi
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Fungal dimorphism, the transition between yeast and filamentous forms, is vital for the lifecycle of many pathogenic fungi.
  • Cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a key regulator of morphological changes and pathogenicity in fungi.
  • Paracoccidioides lutzii causes paracoccidioidomycosis, a significant systemic mycosis in Latin America, initiated by inhaled fungal particles triggering a morphological switch.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and regulation of PKA activity during the mycelium-to-yeast transition in Paracoccidioides lutzii.
  • To determine if PKA inhibition affects the dimorphic transition in P. lutzii.
  • To understand the recovery of morphological transition upon PKA inhibition removal.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of PKA activity during morphological transition.
  • Treatment with H89, a specific PKA inhibitor, to block the mycelium-to-yeast switch.
  • Observation of morphological changes upon removal of H89.

Main Results:

  • PKA activity was observed to increase during the mycelium-to-yeast transition in P. lutzii.
  • The specific PKA inhibitor H89 successfully blocked the morphological transition from mycelium to yeast.
  • Upon H89 removal, P. lutzii regained its ability to transition, accompanied by a significant rise in PKA activity.

Conclusions:

  • PKA activity is regulated during the fungal phase and directly influences the dimorphic transition in Paracoccidioides lutzii.
  • PKA is a critical factor in enabling the mycelium-to-yeast morphological switch necessary for fungal pathogenicity.
  • Targeting PKA could be a potential strategy for controlling P. lutzii infections.
Keywords:
H89PKAParacoccidioides lutzii

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