Phospholipase A2 and Phospholipase B activities in fungi

Gerwald A. Köhler, Audrey Brenot, Eric Haas-Stapleton, Nina Agabian, Rupal Deva, Santosh Nigam

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

As saprophytes or disease causing microorganisms, fungi acquire nutrients from dead organic material or living host organisms. Lipids as structural components of cell membranes and storage compartments play an important role as energy-rich food source. In recent years, it also has become clear that lipids have a wide range of bioactive properties including signal transduction and cell to cell communication. Thus, it is not surprising that fungi possess a broad range of hydrolytic enzymes that attack neutral lipids and phospholipids. Especially during infection of a mammalian host, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes released by fungi could play important roles not only for nutrient acquisition and tissue invasion, but for intricate modulation of the host's immune response. Sequencing of fungal genomes has revealed a wide range of genes encoding PLA2 activities in fungi. We are just beginning to become aware of the significance these enzymes could have for the fungal cells and their interaction with the host.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1391-1399
Number of pages9
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids
Volume1761
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006

Keywords

  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Candida albicans
  • Cryptcoccus neoformans
  • PLB gene
  • Phospholipase A2

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Phospholipase A2 and Phospholipase B activities in fungi'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this