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摘要
Analysis of membrane lipids of Histoplasma capsulatum showed that similar to 40% of fungal ergosterol is present in membrane microdomain fractions resistant to treatment with non-ionic detergent at 4 degrees C. Specific proteins were also enriched in these fractions, particularly Pma1p a yeast microdomain protein marker (a plasma membrane proton ATPase), a 30 kDa laminin-binding protein, and a 50 kDa protein recognized by anti-alpha 5-integrin antibody. To better understand the role of ergosterol-dependent microdomains in fungal biology and pathogenicity, H. capsulatum yeast forms were treated with a sterol chelator, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (m beta CD). Removal of ergosterol by m beta CD incubation led to disorganization of ergosterol-enriched microdomains containing Pma1p and the 30 kDa protein, resulting in displacement of these proteins from detergent-insoluble to -soluble fractions in sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. m beta CD treatment did not displace/remove the 50 kDa alpha 5-integrin-like protein nor had effect on the organization of glycosphingolipids present in the detergent-resistant fractions. Ergosterol-enriched membrane microdomains were also shown to be important for infectivity of alveolar macrophages; after treatment of yeasts with m beta CD, macrophage infectivity was reduced by 45%. These findings suggest the existence of two populations of detergent-resistant membrane microdomains in H. capsulatum yeast forms: (i) ergosterol-independent microdomains rich in integrin-like proteins and glycosphingolipids, possibly involved in signal transduction; (ii) ergosterol-enriched microdomains containing Pma1p and the 30 kDa laminin-binding protein; ergosterol and/or the 30 kDa protein may be involved in macrophage infectivity.
- 出版日期2012-3
