The Cryptococcus neoformans Flc1 Homologue Controls Calcium Homeostasis and Confers Fungal Pathogenicity in the Infected Hosts

Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic yeast pathogen, relies on a complex network of stress response pathways that allow for proliferation in the host. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, stress responses are regulated by integral membrane proteins containing a transient receptor potential (TRP) domain, including the flavin carrier protein 1 (Flc1), which regulates calcium homeostasis and flavin transport. Here, we report that deletion of C. neoformans FLC1 results in cytosolic calcium elevation and increased nuclear content of calcineurin-dependent transcription factor Crz1, which is associated with an aberrant cell wall chitin overaccumulation observed in the flc1 Delta mutant. Absence of Flc1 or inhibition of calcineurin with cyclosporine A prevents vacuolar fusion under conditions of combined osmotic and temperature stress, which is reversed in the flc1 Delta mutant by the inhibition of TORC1 kinase with rapamycin. Flc1-deficient yeasts exhibit compromised vacuolar fusion under starvation conditions, including conditions that stimulate formation of carbohydrate capsule. Consequently, the flc1 Delta mutant fails to proliferate under low nutrient conditions and displays a defect in capsule formation. Consistent with the previously uncharacterized role of Flc1 in vacuolar biogenesis, we find that Flc1 localizes to the vacuole. The flc1 Delta mutant presents a survival defect in J774A.1 macrophage cell-line and profound virulence attenuation in both the Galleria mellonella and mouse pulmonary infection models, demonstrating that Flc1 is essential for pathogenicity. Thus, cryptococcal Flc1 functions in calcium homeostasis and links calcineurin and TOR signaling with vacuolar biogenesis to promote survival under conditions associated with vacuolar fusion required for this pathogen's fitness and virulence. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcosis is a highly lethal infection with limited drug choices, most of which are highly toxic or complicated by emerging antifungal resistance. There is a great need for new drug targets that are unique to the fungus. Here, we identify such a potential target, the Flc1 protein, which we show is crucial for C. neoformans stress response and virulence. Importantly, homologues of Flc1 exist in other fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, and are poorly conserved in humans, which could translate into wider spectrum therapy associated with minimal toxicity. Thus, Flc1 could be an Achille's heel of C. neoformans to be leveraged therapeutically in cryptococcosis and possibly other fungal infections. Cryptococcosis is a highly lethal infection with limited drug choices, most of which are highly toxic or complicated by emerging antifungal resistance. There is a great need for new drug targets that are unique to the fungus.

Automated summary

This study reveals the importance of the Flc1 protein in maintaining calcium homeostasis and vacuolar biogenesis in Cryptococcus neoformans. Deletion of Flc1 leads to an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration, an elevation of Crz1 transcription factor in the nucleus, and an aberrant accumulation of cell wall chitin. Flc1 is also involved in vacuolar fusion and capsule formation. The absence of Flc1 results in the loss of survival ability and virulence in Cryptococcus.