The fungus Candida albicans is both a pathogen and a commensal in humans. The ability to utilize different carbon sources available in diverse host niches is vital for both commensalism and pathogenicity. N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is an important signaling molecule as well as a carbon source in C. albicans. Here, we report the discovery of a novel gene MCU1 essential for GlcNAc utilization. Mcu1 is located in mitochondria and associated with multiple energy- and metabolism-related proteins including Por1, Atp1, Pet9, and Mdh1. Consistently, inactivating Por1 impaired GlcNAc utilization as well. Deletion of MCU1 also caused defects in utilizing non-fermentable carbon sources and amino acids. Furthermore, MCU1 is required for filamentation in several inducing conditions and virulence in a mouse systemic infection model. We also deleted TGL99 and GUP1, two genes adjacent to MCU1, and found that the gup1/gup1 mutant exhibited mild defects in the utilization of several carbon sources including GlcNAc, maltose, galactose, amino acids, and ethanol. Our results indicate that MCU1 exists in a cluster of genes involved in the metabolism of carbon sources. Given its importance in metabolism and lack of a homolog in humans, Mcu1 could be a potential target for developing antifungal agents.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2015.01.006 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Faculty of Education, Shinawatra University, Bangkok, Thailand.
This study aims to reduce engine emissions while maintaining engine performance and providing a sustainable fuel source for long-term use. It introduces a novel approach by combining pine oil (PO) and lemon grass oil (LGO) with diesel fuel in a specific ratio (10% PO + 10% LGO + 80% Diesel). This work is innovative in that it employs these two distinct low-viscosity biofuel blends in conjunction with diesel fuel in an agricultural engine, resulting in reduced carbon footprints in the tailpipe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemistry
December 2024
Université de Liège: Universite de Liege, Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis, Institut de chimie B6a, Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liege, BELGIUM.
Thirteen imidazolium iodides bearing benzyl, mesityl, or 2,6-diiso-propyl-phenyl substituents on their nitrogen atoms, and C1 to C4 alkyl chains on their C2 carbon atom were readily deuterated with D2O as a cheap and non-toxic deuterium source in the presence of Cs2CO3, a weak, innocuous, inorganic base. The isotopic exchange proceeded quickly and efficiently under mild, aerobic conditions to afford a range of aNHC and NHO precursors regioselectively labeled on their C2α exocyclic position and/or C4=C5 heterocyclic backbone. A "carbene-free" mechanism was postulated, in which the carbonate anion acts as a catalyst to activate an exocyclic, acidic C-H bond and ease a deuterium transfer from D2O to the imidazolium salt in a concerted fashion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Sci Instrum
December 2024
X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA.
This paper presents progress made toward the overarching goal to adapt single-photon-counting microcalorimeters to magnetic fusion energy research and demonstrate the value of such measurements for fusion. Microcalorimeter spectrometers combine the best characteristics of x-ray instrumentation currently available on fusion devices: high spectral resolution similar to an x-ray crystal spectrometer and broad spectral coverage sufficient to measure impurity species from Be to W. As a proof-of-principle experiment, a NASA-built x-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer has been installed on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) at the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Microbiol
December 2024
West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that is closely associated with human health. These bacteria colonize the mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract and utilize mucin as their sole source of carbon and nitrogen. spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Razi Inst
June 2024
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Karnatak University, Dharwad (Karnataka, India).
Lipases are triacylglycerol hydrolases with various potential applications because of their different physical properties. Most lipase producers are extracellular in nature and are created using solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation methods. The fungal, mycelial, and yeast lipases are produced using various solid substrates through the solid-state fermentation method.
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