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A MAP kinase cascade composed of cell type specific and non‐specific elements controls mating and differentiation of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Author(s) -
Davidson Robert C.,
Nichols Connie B.,
Cox Gary M.,
Perfect John R.,
Heitman Joseph
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03563.x
Subject(s) - biology , mating type , cryptococcus neoformans , locus (genetics) , kinase , genetics , virulence , cell type , transcription factor , mating of yeast , gene , signal transduction , mitogen activated protein kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , cell
Summary Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen with a defined sexual cycle in which the α allele of the mating type locus is linked to virulence and haploid differentiation. Here we analysed a conserved MAP kinase cascade composed of mating‐type specific (Ste11α, Ste12α) and non‐specific (Ste7, Cpk1) elements. Gene disruption experiments demonstrate that this specialized MAP kinase pathway is required for both mating and cell type‐specific differentiation but not for virulence. The Ste11α, Ste7 and Cpk1 kinases were found to act as a co‐ordinate signalling module, whereas the Ste12α transcription factor functions with a redundant partner or in a branched or parallel signalling pathway. Our studies illustrate how MAP kinase cascades can be constructed from cell type‐specific and non‐specific components, yielding pathways that contribute to cell type‐specific patterns of signalling and differentiation.