The EH domain-containing protein, EdeA, is involved in endocytosis, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in .

UNLABELLED

Endocytosis has been extensively studied in yeasts, where it plays crucial roles in growth, signaling regulation, and cell-surface receptor internalization. However, the biological functions of endocytosis in pathogenic filamentous fungi remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to functionally characterize the roles of EdeA, an ortholog of the endocytic protein Ede1, in . EdeA was observed to be distributed as patches on the plasma membrane and concentrated in the subapical collar of hyphae, a localization characteristic of endocytic proteins. Loss of caused defective hyphal polarity, reduced conidial production, and fewer sites of endocytosis initiations than that of the parental wild type. Notably, the null mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to cell wall-disrupting agents, indicating a role for EdeA in maintaining cell wall integrity in . This observation was further supported by the evidence showing that the thickness of the cell wall in the Δ mutant increased, accompanied by abnormal activation of MpkA, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway. Additionally, the Δ mutant displayed increased pathogenicity in the wax moth infection model, possibly due to alterations in cell wall morphology. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the conserved residue E348 within the third EH (ps15 omology) domain of EdeA as crucial for its subcellular localization and functions. In conclusion, our results highlight the involvement of EdeA in endocytosis, hyphal polarity, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in .

IMPORTANCE

is a significant human pathogenic fungus known to cause invasive aspergillosis, a disease with a high mortality rate. Understanding the basic principles of pathogenicity is crucial for developing effective strategies against this pathogen. Previous research has underscored the importance of endocytosis in the infection capacity of pathogenic yeasts; however, its biological function in pathogenic mold remains largely unexplored. Our characterization of EdeA in sheds light on the role of endocytosis in the development, stress response, and pathogenicity of pathogenic molds. These findings suggest that the components of the endocytosis process may serve as potential targets for antifungal therapy.