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Mol Biol Cell

Title:		PAK kinases Ste20 and Pak1 govern cell polarity at different stages of mating in Cryptococcus neoformans
Author(s):		Nichols CB; Fraser JA; Heitman J;
Address:		"Department of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA"
Journal Title:		Mol Biol Cell
Year:		2004
Volume:		20040728
Issue:		10
Page Number:		4476 - 4489
DOI:		10.1091/mbc.e04-05-0370
ISSN/ISBN:		1059-1524 (Print) 1059-1524 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Sexual identity and mating are linked to virulence of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Cells of the alpha mating type are more prevalent and can be more virulent than a cells, and basidiospores are thought to be the infectious propagule. Mating in C. neoformans involves cell-cell fusion and the generation of dikaryotic hyphae, processes that involve substantial changes in cell polarity. Two p21-activated kinase (PAK) kinases, Pak1 and Ste20, are required for both mating and virulence in C. neoformans. We show here that Ste20 and Pak1 play crucial roles in polarized morphogenesis at different steps during mating: Pak1 functions during cell fusion, whereas Ste20 fulfills a distinct morphogenic role and is required to maintain polarity in the heterokaryotic mating filament. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that PAK kinases are necessary for polar growth during mating and that polarity establishment is necessary for mating and may contribute to virulence of C. neoformans"
Keywords:		Cell Fusion Cell Polarity Cryptococcus neoformans/cytology/*enzymology/pathogenicity/*physiology Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism Humans Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases Morphogenesis Pheromones/metabolism Protei;
Notes:		"MedlineNichols, Connie B Fraser, James A Heitman, Joseph eng R37 AI039115/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI039115/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI39115/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ P01 AI44975/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI50113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI050113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ P01 AI044975/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2004/07/30 Mol Biol Cell. 2004 Oct; 15(10):4476-89. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e04-05-0370. Epub 2004 Jul 28"