A eukaryotic capsular polysaccharide is synthesized intracellularly and secreted via exocytosis

Mol Biol Cell. 2006 Dec;17(12):5131-40. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e06-08-0701. Epub 2006 Oct 4.

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes fatal infection in immunocompromised individuals, has an elaborate polysaccharide capsule surrounding its cell wall. The cryptococcal capsule is the major virulence factor of this fungal organism, but its biosynthetic pathways are virtually unknown. Extracellular polysaccharides of eukaryotes may be made at the cell membrane or within the secretory pathway. To test these possibilities for cryptococcal capsule synthesis, we generated a secretion mutant in C. neoformans by mutating a Sec4/Rab8 GTPase homolog. At a restrictive temperature, the mutant displayed reduced growth and protein secretion, and accumulated approximately 100-nm vesicles in a polarized manner. These vesicles were not endocytic, as shown by their continued accumulation in the absence of polymerized actin, and could be labeled with anti-capsular antibodies as visualized by immunoelectron microscopy. These results indicate that glucuronoxylomannan, the major cryptococcal capsule polysaccharide, is trafficked within post-Golgi secretory vesicles. This strongly supports the conclusion that cryptococcal capsule is synthesized intracellularly and secreted via exocytosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Fungal
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / cytology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / metabolism*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / ultrastructure
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / ultrastructure
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism*
  • Exocytosis / physiology*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Polysaccharides / biosynthesis*
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Temperature
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Polysaccharides
  • cryptococcal polysaccharide
  • glucuronoxylomannan
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins