Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Involvement of Mrs3/4 in Mitochondrial Iron Transport and Metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans

  • Choi, Yoojeong (Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Do, Eunsoo (Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Hu, Guanggan (The Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia) ;
  • Caza, Melissa (The Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia) ;
  • Horianopoulos, Linda C. (The Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia) ;
  • Kronstad, James W. (The Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia) ;
  • Jung, Won Hee (Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University)
  • Received : 2020.04.19
  • Accepted : 2020.05.18
  • Published : 2020.08.28
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Abstract

Mitochondria play a vital role in iron uptake and metabolism in pathogenic fungi, and also influence virulence and drug tolerance. However, the regulation of iron transport within the mitochondria of Cryptococcus neoformans, a causative agent of fungal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized Mrs3/4, a homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial iron transporter, in C. neoformans var. grubii. A strain expressing an Mrs3/4-GFP fusion protein was generated, and the mitochondrial localization of the fusion protein was confirmed. Moreover, a mutant lacking the MRS3/4 gene was constructed; this mutant displayed significantly reduced mitochondrial iron and cellular heme accumulation. In addition, impaired mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster metabolism and altered expression of genes required for iron uptake at the plasma membrane were observed in the mrs3/4 mutant, suggesting that Mrs3/4 is involved in iron import and metabolism in the mitochondria of C. neoformans. Using a murine model of cryptococcosis, we demonstrated that an mrs3/4 mutant is defective in survival and virulence. Taken together, our study suggests that Mrs3/4 is responsible for iron import in mitochondria and reveals a link between mitochondrial iron metabolism and the virulence of C. neoformans.

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References

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