NCW2, a Gene Involved in the Tolerance to Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB), May Help in the Organisation of β-1,3-Glucan Structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall

• Published in: Current microbiology Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 341 - 345
• Main Authors: Elsztein, Carolina, de Lima, Rita de Cássia Pereira, de Barros Pita, Will, de Morais, Marcos Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; beta-Glucans - chemistry; beta-Glucans - metabolism; Biguanides - pharmacology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Wall - chemistry; Cell Wall - genetics; Cell Wall - metabolism; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Life Sciences; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Microbiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - chemistry; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Cell Wall Protein; Yeast Cell Wall; Cell Wall Integrity; ECM33 Gene; Chitin Content
• ISSN: 0343-8651; 1432-0991
• DOI: 10.1007/s00284-016-1067-z

In the present work, we provide biological evidences supporting the participation of NCW2 gene in the mechanism responsible for cell tolerance to polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), an antifungal agent. The growth rate of yeast cells exposed to this agent was significantly reduced in ∆ncw2 strain and the mRNA levels of NCW2 gene in the presence of PHMB showed a 7-fold up-regulation. Moreover, lack of NCW2 gene turns yeast cell more resistant to zymolyase treatment, indicating that alterations in the β-glucan network do occur when Ncw2p is absent. Computational analysis of the translated protein indicated neither catalytic nor transmembrane sites and reinforced the hypothesis of secretion and anchoring to cell surface. Altogether, these results indicated that NCW2 gene codes for a protein which participates in the cell wall biogenesis in yeasts and that Ncw2p might play a role in the organisation of the β-glucan assembly.