Proteomic profile of Cryptococcus neoformans biofilm reveals changes in metabolic processes

Lucélia Santi, Walter O. Beys-Da-Silva, Markus Berger, Diego Calzolari, Jorge A. Guimarães, James J. Moresco, John R. Yates

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic yeast, causes meningoencephalitis, especially in immunocompromised patients, leading in some cases to death. Microbes in biofilms can cause persistent infections, which are harder to treat. Cryptococcal biofilms are becoming common due to the growing use of brain valves and other medical devices. Using shotgun proteomics we determine the differences in protein abundance between biofilm and planktonic cells. Applying bioinformatic tools, we also evaluated the metabolic pathways involved in biofilm maintenance and protein interactions. Our proteomic data suggest general changes in metabolism, protein turnover, and global stress responses. Biofilm cells show an increase in proteins related to oxidation-reduction, proteolysis, and response to stress and a reduction in proteins related to metabolic process, transport, and translation. An increase in pyruvate-utilizing enzymes was detected, suggesting a shift from the TCA cycle to fermentation-derived energy acquisition. Additionally, we assign putative roles to 33 proteins previously categorized as hypothetical. Many changes in metabolic enzymes were identified in studies of bacterial biofilm, potentially revealing a conserved strategy in biofilm lifestyle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1545-1559
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Proteome Research
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 7 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cryptococcus neoformans
  • biofilm
  • metabolic changes
  • resistance
  • shotgun proteomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • General Chemistry

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