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Eukaryot Cell

Title:		Sex-specific homeodomain proteins Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a coordinately regulate sexual development in Cryptococcus neoformans
Author(s):		Hull CM; Boily MJ; Heitman J;
Address:		"Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, 100 Research Dr., Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA"
Journal Title:		Eukaryot Cell
Year:		2005
Volume:		4
Issue:		3
Page Number:		526 - 535
DOI:		10.1128/EC.4.3.526-535.2005
ISSN/ISBN:		1535-9778 (Print) 1535-9786 (Electronic) 1535-9786 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Homeodomain proteins are central regulators of development in eukaryotes. In fungi, homeodomain proteins have been shown to control cell identity and sexual development. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen with a defined sexual cycle that produces spores, the suspected infectious particles. Previously, only a single homeodomain regulatory protein involved in sexual development, Sxi1alpha, had been identified. Here we present the discovery of Sxi2a, a predicted but heretofore elusive cell-type-specific homeodomain protein essential for the regulation of sexual development. Our studies reveal that Sxi2a is necessary for proper sexual development and sufficient to drive this development in otherwise haploid alpha cells. We further show that Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a interact with one another and impart similar expression patterns for two key mating genes. The discovery of Sxi2a and its relationship with Sxi1alpha leads to a new model for how the sexual cycle is controlled in C. neoformans, with implications for virulence"
Keywords:		"Amino Acid Sequence Animals Cell Cycle/*physiology Cryptococcus neoformans/cytology/*growth & development/pathogenicity/physiology Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal Genotype Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/*metabolism H;"
Notes:		"MedlineHull, Christina M Boily, Marie-Josee Heitman, Joseph eng U01 AI47087/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ U01 AI48594/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI50113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ AI44975/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ P01 AI044975/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI050113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2005/03/10 Eukaryot Cell. 2005 Mar; 4(3):526-35. doi: 10.1128/EC.4.3.526-535.2005"