The Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Med Mycol. 2011 Nov;49(8):806-18. doi: 10.3109/13693786.2011.572930. Epub 2011 Apr 6.
As one of the main components of the fungal cell wall, β-1,3-glucan provides the mechanical strength to protect fungal protoplasts. The enzyme responsible for the synthesis of β-1,3-glucans in fungi is β-1,3-glucan synthase. Here we report the cloning, sequencing and characterization of the WdFKS1 gene, which in the pathogenic fungus Wangiella dermatitidis encodes the catalytic domain of its β-1, 3-glucan synthase. Because our research suggested that WdFKS1 is a single copy essential gene, we used RNA interference to reduce its expression. Reduction of the WdFKS1 messenger retarded growth and caused the loss of cell wall integrity of yeast cells, but not hyphae or sclerotic cells. We suggest that the WdFKS1 in this polymorphic agent of phaeohyphomycosis is not only required for cell wall construction and maintenance, but also is involved in septum formation.
作为真菌细胞壁的主要成分之一，β-1,3-葡聚糖为保护真菌原生质体提供了机械强度。负责真菌中β-1,3-葡聚糖合成的酶是β-1,3-葡聚糖合酶。在这里，我们报告了 WdFKS1 基因的克隆、测序和特征，该基因在致病性真菌 Wangiella dermatitidis 中编码其β-1,3-葡聚糖合酶的催化结构域。因为我们的研究表明 WdFKS1 是一个单拷贝必需基因，所以我们使用 RNA 干扰来降低其表达。WdFKS1 信使的减少会减缓酵母细胞的生长，并导致细胞壁完整性丧失，但不会影响菌丝或硬化细胞。我们认为，这种多态性暗色丝孢霉病病原体中的 WdFKS1 不仅需要用于细胞壁的构建和维持，还参与隔膜的形成。
