Publication details
CYTOSKELETON IN THE CELL CYCLE OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS AND THE EFFECTS OF CYTOSKELETAL INHIBITORS
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2001 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | XXIX.Výrocná konferencia o kvasinkách, Kongresové centrum SAV Smolenice |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Other medical specializations |
| Description | The objectives of the study were (i) to identify morphologically distinct stages in the cell division cycle of C. neoformans, (ii) to identify microtubular and actin components of the cytoskeleton and (iii) to investigate the effect of two cytoskeletal inhibitors, Cytochalasin D and methylbenzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC), on cell proliferation and potential cell death. Both interphase and M-phase were found to be characterised each by three distinct morphological stages: mother cell, development of a sterigma-like protrusion and bud emergence, and nuclear migration into the bud and subsequent mitosis, postmitotic phase, cytokinesis and cell separation. F-actin (patches, cables and cytokinetic rings) was similar to the ascomycetous budding yeast; patches accumulated at the apex of the growing sterigma, in the bud and around the septum, but also were evenly distributed in mother cells. Cytoplasmic and spindle microtubules were similar to those in the ascomycetous fission yeast. Cytoplasmic microtubules were visualised as a dense network. Microtubules extending into the sterigma formed a bundle but showed a radiating pattern in the bud. Before mitosis, when the nucleus migrated into the bud, the cytoplasmic microtubules disappeared, while a mitotic spindle emerged to move one nucleus back to the mother cell and the other to the daughter cell. After mitosis, an actin ring appeared in the bud neck and actin patches aggregated close to the developing septum. Cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerisation, had no effect on the actin cytoskeleton and showed no inhibition of cell proliferation. Microtubular inhibitor MBC caused microtubule disintegration, inhibited nuclear division and arrested cell proliferation; affected cells persisted as doublets,but the inhibitory effect of MBC was transient only. Therefore, further cytoskeletal inhibitors will be investigated. Financial support was provided by Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Culture for Marie Kopecká as a Guest Professor of Chiba University, Japan in 1998-1999 and by grant no. 310/00/0391 of Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. |
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