Molecular aspects of the biology of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii

• Grant number: 12/19960-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Suely Lopes Gomes
• Grantee: Suely Lopes Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Raphaela de Castro Georg

Abstract

This project aims at investigating the molecular aspects related to the life cycle of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii. Three subprojects analyzing different aspects of the biology of the fungus will be developped. In subproject 1, the effects of environmental stresses in mesenger RNA processing in the fungus will be investigated. In particular, we will investigated how exposure to heavy metals altrs intron splicing in mRNAS, and will initiate the characterization of the components of Blastocladiella spliceosome. In subproject 2, we will concentrate in the characterization of the cGMP signaling pathway in B. emersonii. For that three putative guanylyl cyclases, found during the fungus' cDNA sequencing project, will be characterized, as well as a probable cGMP phosphodiesterase. Other possible components of the signaling pathway will also be investigated, as well as their levels during the life cycle do the fungus and their subcellular localization. In subproject 3, a phosphoproteomic investigation will be carried out, during the two stages of differentiation of the fungus: the germination and the sporulation, since there are strong evidences of the importance of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events in both stages of the cycle. The association of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events with signal transduction pathways will also be investigated. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OSHIQUIRI, LETICIA HARUMI; GOMES, SUELY LOPES; GEORG, RAPHAELA CASTRO. Blastocladiella emersonii spliceosome is regulated in response to the splicing inhibition caused by the metals cadmium, cobalt and manganese. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 124, n. 5, p. 468-474, MAY 2020. (12/19960-1, 18/20571-6)

LUEVANO-MARTINEZ, LUIS ALBERTO; CALDEIRA DA SILVA, CAMILLE C.; NICASTRO, GIANLUCCA G.; SCHUMACHER, I, ROBERT; KOWALTOWSKI, ALICIA J.; GOMES, SUELY L.. Mitochondrial alternative oxidase is determinant for growth and sporulation in the early diverging fungus Blastocladiella emersonii. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 123, n. 1, p. 59-65, JAN 2019. (13/07937-8, 16/12999-0, 12/19960-1)

GEORG, RAPHAELA CASTRO; OSHIQUIRI, LETICIA HARUMI; BARBOSA-FILHO, JOMAL RODRIGUES; GOMES, SUELY LOPES. Small heat shock protein genes are developmentally regulated during stress and non-stress conditions in Blastocladiella emersonii. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 124, n. 5, p. 482-489, MAY 2020. (12/19960-1, 18/20571-6)