Jordan, D. F. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

A heterologous expression system allows rapid testing and discovery of resistance-conferring mutations from multiple pathogenic fungi

To face the fungal infections that affect millions of people every year, a better understanding of resistance-conferring mutations is necessary. One obstacle is the considerable time and effort necessary to construct point mutations in pathogenic species, which is required to validate their role in resistance. To overcome this problem, we have constructed a series of heterologous expression plasmids that allow expression of the ERG3, ERG6 and ERG11 orthologs from Candida albicans, Candidozyma auris, Nakaseomyces glabratus, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and the CYP51A and CYP51B genes of Aspergillus fumigatus. All orthologs are codon-optimized and synthesized for expression in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also constructed host strains in which the native ERG genes are either deleted or under the control of a repressible promoter. We showed that all orthologs complement the function of the native genes when expressed from the S. cerevisiae native promoters. We recreated previously reported resistance-conferring mutations, and showed that expression in S. cerevisiae replicates known resistance phenotypes. We then used the system to test corresponding mutations across orthologs, and showed that most resistance phenotypes are conserved. The heterologous expression system allows rapid construction of mutants, by taking advantage of the abundant genetic tools available for S. cerevisiae. Screening of mutants can be done within a few experimental steps, greatly increasing the throughput compared to the introduction of mutations in pathogenic fungi. As a proof-of-concept, we used the system to discover new resistance-conferring mutations, using random mutagenesis. All plasmids are made publicly available.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Residues Neighboring an SH3-Binding Motif Participate in Determining Affinity and Specificity In Vivo

In signaling networks, protein-protein interactions are often mediated by modular domains that bind short linear motifs. The motifs sequences affect many factors, among them affinity and specificity, or the ability to bind strongly and to the appropriate partners. Using Deep Mutational Scanning to create a mutant library, and protein complementation assays to measure protein-protein interactions, we determined the in vivo binding strength of a library of mutants of a binding motif on the MAP kinase kinase Pbs2, which binds the SH3 domain of the osmosensor protein Sho1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These measurements were made using the full-length endogenous proteins, in their native cellular environment. We find that along with residues within the canonical motif, many mutations in the residues neighboring the motif also modulate binding strength. Interestingly, all Pbs2 mutations which increase binding are situated outside of the Pbs2 region that interacts with the canonical SH3 binding pocket, suggesting that other surfaces on Sho1 contribute to binding. We use predicted structures and mutations to propose a model of binding which involves residues neighboring the canonical Pbs2 motif binding outside of the canonical SH3 binding pocket. We compared this predicted structure with known structures of SH3 domains binding peptides through residues outside of the motif, and put forth possible mechanisms through which Pbs2 can bind specifically to Sho1. We propose that for certain SH3 domain-motif pairs, affinity and specificity are determined by a broader range of sequences than what has previously been considered, potentially allowing easier differentiation between otherwise similar partners. SummaryProtein-protein interactions are often mediated by a binding domain on one protein and a short disordered binding motif on another protein. We measured the binding strength of a mutant library of a binding motif situated in the yeast protein Pbs2 to the SH3 domain of Sho1. Many mutations in the residues neighboring the motif affect binding. A protein structure prediction of the interaction partners shows that residues neighboring the motif bind residues outside the known binding pocket on the SH3 domain. The Sho1-Pbs2 interaction differs enough from other known SH3-motif pairs to allow specific binding.

systems biology↗