TupA, the Penicillium marneffei Tup1p homologue, represses both yeast and spore development

Abstract

Fungal pathogenesis is frequently associated with dimorphism - morphological changes between yeast and filamentous forms. Penicillium marneffei, an opportunistic human pathogen, exhibits temperature-dependent dimorphism, with growth at 25°C as filamentous multinucleate hyphae switching at 37°C to uninucleate yeast cells associated with intracellular pathogenesis. The filamentous hyphae also undergo asexual development generating uninucleate spores, the infectious propagules. Both processes require a switch to coupled nuclear and cell division. Homologous regulators, including Tup1p/GROUCHO-related WD40 repeat transcription factors, control dimorphism in Candida albicans and asexual developme..