The PAC-3 transcription factor critically regulates phenotype-associated genes in Neurospora crassa

Abstract

Transcription factors play an important role in fungal environmental adaptive process by promoting adjustment to challenging stimuli via gene modulation and activation of signaling networks. The transcription factor encoded by the pac-3/rim101/pacC gene is involved in pH regulation and is associated with a wide variety of cellular functions. The deletion of pac-3 affects fungal development. In Neurospora crassa, the Dpac-3 strain presents diminished aerial growth and reduced conidiation. However, the PAC-3-regulated genes associated with this altered phenotype have not been elucidated. In this study, we used RNA-seq to analyze the phenotypic plasticity induced after pac-3 deletion in the filamentous fungus N. crassa cultivated in media supplemented with sufficient or limited inorganic phosphate. Genes related to morphology, hyphal development, and conidiation were of particular interest in this study. Our results suggest a pac-3 dependency in gene regulation in a Pi-dependent manner. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that the fungus attempts to overcome the deletion effects in a Dpac-3 mutant through a complex combined regulatory mechanism. Finally, the modulatory responses observed in the Dpac-3 strain, a double mutant generated based on the Dmus-52 mutant strain, is strain-specific, highlighting that the phenotypic impact may be attributed to pac-3 absence despite the combined mus-52 deletion.

Relevance of Nutrient-Sensing in the Pathogenesis of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale

“…Fungi contain advanced complex signal transduction networks allowing their adaptation to pH fluctuation, triggering the expression of several genes to facilitate their survival in a broad range of environmental conditions (Rossi et al, 2013 ; Martins et al, 2019a , b ). The pH shift and nutritional source are of great importance in maintaining dermatophyte growth (Martinez-Rossi et al, 2017 ).…”

State-of-the-Art Dermatophyte Infections: Epidemiology Aspects, Pathophysiology, and Resistance Mechanisms

“…Nevertheless, assays carried out in A. nidulans demonstrated the activity of full-length PacC under acidic pH [ 72 ]. In addition, a recent study that profiled the gene modulation governed by Pac3 in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa demonstrated this transcription factor’s diverse metabolic and adaptive roles and its impact on the regulation of an additional 12 transcription factors [ 73 ]. Previous studies in dermatophytes have shown the involvement of the PacC signaling cascade in post-translational modifications (PTM), mainly related to glycosylation [ 74 ].…”