P-type atpase apt1 of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is a lipid flippase of broad substrate specificity

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Lipid flippases of the P4-ATPase family are ATP-driven transporters that translocate lipids from the exoplasmic to the cytosolic leaflet of biological membranes. In the encapsulated fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, the P4-ATPase Apt1p is an important regulator of polysaccharide secretion and pathogenesis, but its biochemical characterization is lacking. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Apt1p belongs to the subclade of P4A-ATPases characterized by the common requirement for a β-subunit. Using heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae, we demonstrate that Apt1p forms a heterodimeric complex with the C. neoformans Cdc50 protein. This association is required for both localization and activity of the transporter complex. Lipid flippase activity of the heterodimeric complex was assessed by complementation tests and uptake assays employing fluorescent lipids and revealed a broad substrate specificity, including several phospholipids, the alkylphospholipid miltefosine, and the glycolipids glucosyl-and galactosylceramide. Our results suggest that transbilayer lipid transport in C. neoformans is finely regulated to promote fungal virulence, which reinforces the potential of Apt1p as a target for antifungal drug development.

Original languageEnglish
Article number843
JournalJournal of Fungi
Volume7
Issue number10
Number of pages16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

    Research areas

  • CDC50 protein, Heterologous expression, Lipid transport, Membrane transport protein, P4-ATPase, β-subunit

ID: 284197742