Secreted aspartic proteinase Sapp1p of Candida parapsilosis represents one of the factors contributing to the pathogenicity of the fungus. The proteinase is synthesized as an inactive pre-pro-enzyme, but only processed Sapp1p is secreted into extracellular space. We constructed a plasmid containing the SAPP1 coding sequence under control of the ScGAL1 promoter and used it for proteinase expression in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae kex2Δ mutant. Because Sapp1p maturation depends on cleavage by Kex2p proteinase, the kex2Δ mutant secreted only the pro-form of Sapp1p. Characterization of this secreted proteinase form revealed that the Sapp1p signal peptide consists of 23 amino acids. Additionally, we prepared a plasmid with the SAPP1 coding sequence under control of its authentic CpSAPP1 promoter, which contains two GATAA motifs. While in C. parapsilosis SAPP1 expression is repressed by good low molecular weight nitrogen sources (e.g., ammonium ions), S. cerevisiae cells harboring this plasmid secreted a low concentration of active proteinase regardless of the type of nitrogen source used. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of a set of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and uptake (GAT1, GLN3, STP2, GAP1, OPT1, and PTR2) obtained from S. cerevisiae cells transformed with either plasmid encoding SAPP1 under control of its own promoter or empty vector and cultivated in media containing various nitrogen sources also suggested that SAPP1 expression can be connected with the S. cerevisiae regulatory network. However, this regulation occurs in a different manner than in C. parapsilosis.

• MeSH
• Candida enzymology   genetics   MeSH
• Nitrogen metabolism   MeSH
• Endopeptidases metabolism   MeSH
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzymology   genetics   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Nitrogen MeSH
• Endopeptidases MeSH

Human acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA, EC 3.2.1.20) is a lysosomal enzyme that belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 31 (GH31) and catalyses the hydrolysis of alpha-1,4- and alpha-1,6-glucosidic linkages at acid pH. Hereditary deficiency of GAA results in lysosomal glycogen storage disease type II (GSDII, Pompe disease). The aim of this study was to assess GH31 proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to identify the ortholog of human GAA. Bioinformatic searches for GAA ortholog in C. elegans genome revealed four acid alpha-glucosidase-related (aagr-1-4) genes. Multiple sequence alignment of AAGRs with other GH31 proteins demonstrated their evolutionary conservation. Phylogenetic analyses suggested clustering of AAGR-1 and -2 with acid-active and AAGR-3 and -4 with neutral-active GH31 enzymes. In order to prove the AAGRs' predicted alpha-glucosidase activity, we performed RNA interference of all four aagr genes. The impact on the alpha-glucosidase activity was evaluated at pH 4.0 (acid) and pH 6.5 (neutral), with or without the inhibitor acarbose. AAGR-1 and -2 expressed acidic alpha-glucosidase activity; on the contrary, AAGR-3 not -4 represented the predominant neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in C. elegans. Similar results were obtained in each of aagr-1 and -4 deletion mutants. Moreover, based on our structural models of AAGRs and these biochemical experiments, we hypothesize that the enzymatic sensitivity of AAGR-2 and human maltase-glucoamylase to the inhibitor acarbose is associated with a tyrosine residue in the GH31 active site, whereas acarbose resistance of AAGR-1 and human GAA is associated with the corresponding tryptophane in the active site. Acid-active AAGR-1 may thus represent the ortholog of human GAA in C. elegans.

• MeSH
• Acarbose pharmacology   MeSH
• alpha-Glucosidases chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors MeSH
• Catalytic Domain MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins antagonists & inhibitors   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Sequence Alignment MeSH
• Computational Biology methods   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aagr-1 protein, C elegans MeSH Browser
• Acarbose MeSH
• alpha-Glucosidases MeSH
• GAA protein, human MeSH Browser
• Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors MeSH
• Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins MeSH