Low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or nitrite induced of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cell proliferation in a Ras-dependent manner

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 29;8(7):e69590. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069590. Print 2013.

Abstract

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), should be able to adapt to dramatic environmental changes inside the infected host after inhalation of air-borne conidia and transition to pathogenic yeasts. Proteins with antioxidant functions may protect fungal cells against reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species generated by phagocytic cells, thus acting as potential virulence factors. Ras GTPases are involved in stress responses, cell morphology, and differentiation in a range of organisms. Ras, in its activated form, interacts with effector proteins and can initiate a kinase cascade. In lower eukaryotes, Byr2 kinase represents a Ras target. The present study investigated the role of Ras in P. brasiliensis after in vitro stimulus with ROS or RNS. We have demonstrated that low concentrations of H2O2 (0.1 mM) or NO2 (0.1-0.25 µM) stimulated P. brasiliensis yeast cell proliferation and that was not observed when yeast cells were pre-incubated with farnesyltransferase inhibitor. We constructed an expression plasmid containing the Byr2 Ras-binding domain (RBD) fused with GST (RBD-Byr2-GST) to detect the Ras active form. After stimulation with low concentrations of H2O2 or NO2, the Ras active form was observed in fungal extracts. Besides, NO2 induced a rapid increase in S-nitrosylated Ras levels. This alternative posttranslational modification of Ras, probably in residue Cys123, would lead to an exchange of GDP for GTP and consequent GTPase activation in P. brasiliensis. In conclusion, low concentrations of H2O2 or NO2 stimulated P. brasiliensis proliferation through Ras activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Nitrites / pharmacology*
  • Paracoccidioides / cytology*
  • Paracoccidioides / drug effects
  • Paracoccidioides / metabolism*
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Nitrites
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • ras Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (grant 2011/14392-2) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (grant 477764/2009-6) to WLB; and Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (scholarship to AECJH). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.