Copper overload in Paracoccidioides lutzii results in the accumulation of ergosterol and melanin

Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Department of Medicine. New York City, NY, USA.
Universidade Federal de Goiás. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Campus II. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular. Goiânia, GO, Brazil.

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a highly prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America, caused by fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. Copper is essential for eukaryotes and bacteria. This micronutrient is used in many vital biochemical processes, although metal excess levels can be toxic for organisms. Pathways underlying copper overload are poorly understood in members of the Paracoccidioides complex. The responses of Paracoccidioides lutzii yeast cells to copper overload were here evaluated. The results showed that under copper overload, cells presented a dark brown pigment, identified as melanin. Proteomic analyses identified mainly the accumulation of proteins related to amino acids metabolism, ergosterol synthesis and melanin production, suggesting that P. lutzii responds to copper overload by changing aspects of its metabolism and also plasma membrane and cell wall remodeling. Proteomic data were confirmed by biochemical analysis.

Keywords

Cellular defense
Copper overload
Fungi
Proteome

Publisher

Elsevier

Citation

PORTIS, Igor Godinho et al. Copper overload in Paracoccidioides lutzii results in the accumulation of ergosterol and melanin. Microbiological Research, v. 239, p. 1-9, Oct. 2020.

DOI

10.1016/j.micres.2020.126524

ISSN

0944-5013

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/60981

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