Biochemical Properties and Possible Roles of Ectophosphatase Activities in Fungi

Abstract

Ectophosphatases are surface membrane-bound proteins whose active sites face the extracellular medium. These enzymes have been reported in several microorganisms including a large number of medically relevant fungal species. An effective technique for identifying ectophosphatases is performing phosphatase activity assays using living intact cells. Biochemical characterization of these activities has shown their differential modulation by classical phosphatase inhibitors, divalent metals and pH range. The physiological roles of ectophosphatases are not well established; however, it has been suggested that these enzymes play important roles in nutrition, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, virulence and infection. Adhesion to host cells is the first step in establishing a fungal infection and ectophosphatases may be one of the first parasite proteins that come into contact with the host cells. Several results indicate that ectophosphatase activities increase the capacity of fungi to adhere to the host cells. In this context, the present review provides an overview of recent discoveries related to the occurrence and possible roles of ectophosphatase activities in fungal cells.

Antibody Binding Alters the Characteristics and Contents of Extracellular Vesicles Released by Histoplasma capsulatum

“…For example, the chaperone Hsp60 is a major ligand involved in phagocytosis by mediating the attachment of H. capsulatum cells to macrophage/monocyte integrin CR3 (CD11b/CD18), whereas M antigen, another surface antigen, is a catalase involved in the protection of fungal cells from oxidative stress ( 9 , 19 ). In addition, phosphatase and laccase are enzymes involved in protein dephosphorylation and melanin synthesis, respectively ( 19 , 20 ). Given the finding that MAbs can modify disease pathogenesis, we determined the effects of a protective MAb and a nonprotective MAb on the production and contents of extracellular vesicles from H. capsulatum .…”

Biosorption study of potential fungi for copper remediation from Peninsular Malaysia

“…A. tamarii showed a better tolerance and lower growth inhibition (‒8.30 percent) than S. subtropicum (‒45.55 percent) at 200 mg/L. The growth inhibition in both species might be a result of the inhibition of ectophosphatase activity by Cu in the intact mycelia and conidia (Freitas‐Mesquita & Meyer‐Fernandes, ). Although A. tamarii was inhibited by Cu, it had the potential to bioremediate endosulfan and chlorinated cyclodiene pesticide molecules (Silambarasan & Abraham, ).…”

The Patenting of Products and Processes Used for the Treatment of Smoke Inhalation

“…The ectophosphatases and, especially, the alkaline phosphatases are a subclass of phosphatases (hydrolases that act on ester connections). The role of ectophosphatases is not well established yet; however, it has been suggested that these enzymes perform important tasks in nutrition, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, virulence, and infection [26]. Furthermore, it is possible to assure that there is a consistent relation between the of an organism to decay extracellular ATP by ectophosphatases activities and its capacity to acquire resistance to toxins.…”