Vesicle trafficking, organelle functions, and unconventional secretion in fungal physiology and pathogenicity

Jun-ya Shoji; Takashi Kikuma; Katsuhiko Kitamoto

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2014.03.002

Vesicle trafficking, organelle functions, and unconventional secretion in fungal physiology and pathogenicity

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2014 Aug:20:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.03.002. Epub 2014 May 15.

Authors

Jun-ya Shoji¹, Takashi Kikuma¹, Katsuhiko Kitamoto²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
² Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. Electronic address: akitamo@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

PMID: 24835421
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.03.002

Abstract

Specific localization of appropriate sets of proteins and lipids is central to functions and integrity of organelles, which in turn underlie cellular activities of eukaryotes. Vesicle trafficking is a conserved mechanism of intracellular transport, which ensures such a specific localization to a subset of organelles. In this review article, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of how vesicle trafficking and related organelles support physiology and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi. Examples include a link between Golgi organization and polarity maintenance during hyphal tip growth, a new role of early endosomes in transport of translational machinery, involvement of endosomal/vacuolar compartments in secondary metabolite synthesis, and functions of vacuoles and autophagy in fungal development, nutrient recycling and allocation. Accumulating evidence showing the importance of unconventional secretion in fungal pathogenicity is also summarized.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism*
Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
Fungi / metabolism
Fungi / pathogenicity*
Fungi / physiology*