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The Pseudogymnoascus destructans Proteome Under Copper Stress Conditions
Alyssa D Friudenberg1, Saika Anne1,2, Yuan Lu3
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
Abstract:
The invasive fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans is responsible for the collapse of several North American bat species through an infectious fungal skin disease known as White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). Recent transcriptomic studies have suggested that trace copper ion acquisition is essential for P. destructans propagation on its animal hosts. However, little is known about the mechanistic details of P. destructans adaptation occurring at the protein level. In this study, we report the global proteomic adaptation of P. destructans under chronic Cu-stress growth conditions employing chemically defined media. We identify 4340 P. destructans proteins, or approximately 47.8% of the predicted proteome, spanning a dynamic intensity range of six orders of magnitude. Chronic Cu-withholding stress leads to substantial alterations in the proteome, with 1398 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) exhibiting statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes in protein levels compared to control growth conditions. We find that Cu-withholding stress induces increased levels of proteins associated with high-affinity Cu-acquisition, changes in intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and alterations in mitochondrial proteins related to aerobic respiration. In contrast, chronic Cu-overload stress leads to 390 DAPs (p < 0.05), which are more widely distributed across the proteome, with several DAPs associated with genomic stability and basic metabolism. Additionally, in this report, we present assessment of antisera products against intracellular and cell-surface protein targets of P. destructans that are effective for indicating Cu-withholding stress by western blotting. Together this report, provides insight into P. destructans adaptability to copper stress and identifies fungal proteins that may alleviate copper stress in the WNS infection niche.
Insights
This study reveals how the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans adapts its proteins to copper stress, crucial for White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) survival. Understanding these adaptations may lead to new treatments for this devastating bat disease.
Area of Science:
- Mycology and Pathogen Biology
- Proteomics and Molecular Adaptation
- Wildlife Disease Research
Background:
- Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a devastating bat disease.
- Copper acquisition is vital for P. destructans survival, but protein-level adaptations are poorly understood.
- Investigating fungal proteomic responses to copper stress is critical for WNS management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To globally analyze the proteomic adaptation of P. destructans under varying copper (Cu) stress conditions.
- To identify specific proteins and pathways involved in P. destructans' response to Cu-withholding and Cu-overload.
- To assess potential protein targets for therapeutic intervention against WNS.
Main Methods:
- Global proteomic analysis of P. destructans grown in chemically defined media under chronic Cu-stress.
- Quantification of 4340 P. destructans proteins using mass spectrometry.
- Statistical analysis to identify differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) under Cu-withholding and Cu-overload.
Main Results:
- Cu-withholding stress significantly altered 1398 proteins, including those for high-affinity Cu-acquisition, superoxide dismutase levels, and mitochondrial respiration.
- Cu-overload stress affected 390 proteins, with impacts on genomic stability and core metabolism.
- Developed effective antisera against P. destructans proteins indicating Cu-withholding stress.
Conclusions:
- P. destructans exhibits significant proteomic plasticity in response to copper stress.
- Identified key proteins involved in fungal adaptation to the WNS infection niche.
- These findings provide insights into potential targets for novel WNS therapeutic strategies.
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