Differential Metabolism of a Two-Carbon Substrate by Members of the Genus.

The genus comprises known fungal pathogens of humans and can be isolated from different infection sites. Metabolic peculiarities in different members of the led us to perform proteomic studies in the presence of the two-carbon molecule acetate, which predominates in the nutrient-poor environment of the phagosome. To investigate the expression rates of proteins of different members of , including one isolate of (01) and three isolates of (03, 339, and EPM83), using sodium acetate as a carbon source, proteins were quantified using label-free and data-independent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Protein profiles of the isolates were statistically analyzed, revealing proteins that were differentially expressed when the fungus was cultivated in a non-preferential carbon source rather than glucose. A total of 1,160, 1,211, 1,280, and 1,462 proteins were reproducibly identified and relatively quantified in and the isolates 03, 339, and EPM83, respectively. Notably, 526, 435, 744, and 747 proteins were differentially expressed among and the isolates 03, 339, and EPM, respectively, with a fold-change equal to or higher than 1.5. This analysis revealed that reorganization of metabolism occurred through the induction of proteins related to gluconeogenesis, glyoxylic/glyoxylate cycle, response to stress, and degradation of amino acids in the four isolates. The following differences were observed among the isolates: higher increases in the expression levels of proteins belonging to the TCA and respiratory chain in EPM83 and 01; increase in ethanol production in 01; utilization of cell wall components for gluconeogenesis in 03 and EPM83; and increased β-oxidation and methylcitrate cycle proteins in 01and EPM83. Proteomic profiles indicated that the four isolates reorganized their metabolism in different manners to use acetate as a carbon source.