RNA sequencing reveals an additional Crz1-binding motif in promoters of its target genes in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

作者：Huihui Xu, Tianshu Fang, Raha Parvizi Omran, Malcolm Whiteway, Linghuo Jiang · 发表于：Cell Communication and Signaling · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1186/s12964-019-0473-9 · 被引用次数：114 · 研究领域：Signaling Pathways in Disease、Fungal and yeast genetics research、Mechanisms of cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND: The calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway is mediated by the transcription factors NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) in mammals and Crz1 (calcineurin-responsive zinc finger 1) in yeasts and other lower eukaryotes. A previous microarray analysis identified a putative Crz1-binding motif in promoters of its target genes in Candida albicans, but it has not been experimentally demonstrated. METHODS: . Gene promoters were scanned by the online MEME (Multiple Em for Motif Elicitation) software. Gel electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis were used for in vitro and in vivo CaCrz1-binding experiments, respectively. RESULTS: RNA sequencing reveals that expression of 219 genes is positively, and expression of 59 genes is negatively, controlled by CaCrz1 in response to calcium stress. These genes function in metabolism, cell cycling, protein fate, cellular transport, signal transduction, transcription, and cell wall biogenesis. Forty of these positively regulated 219 genes have previously been identified by DNA microarray analysis. Promoter analysis of these common 40 genes reveals a consensus motif [5'-GGAGGC(G/A)C(T/A)G-3'], which is different from the putative CaCrz1-binding motif [5'-G(C/T)GGT-3'] identified in the previous study, but similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScCrz1-binding motif [5'-GNGGC(G/T)CA-3']. EMSA and ChIP assays indicate that CaCrz1 binds in vitro and in vivo to both motifs in the promoter...