Biochemical correlate of dimorphism in a zygomycete benjaminiella poitrasii: characterization of purified NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase, a target for antifungal agents
| Title | Biochemical correlate of dimorphism in a zygomycete benjaminiella poitrasii: characterization of purified NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase, a target for antifungal agents | 
| Publication Type | Journal Article | 
| Year of Publication | 2013 | 
| Authors | Joshi, CV, Pathan, EK, Punekar, NS, Tupe, SG, Kapadnis, BP, Deshpande, MV | 
| Journal | Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology | 
| Volume | 104 | 
| Issue | 1 | 
| Pagination | 25-36 | 
| Date Published | JUL | 
| ISSN | 0003-6072 | 
| Keywords | Antifungal agent, Benjaminiella poitrasii, Biochemical correlate of dimorphism, Candida albicans, NAD-GDH activity regulation, Yarrowia lipolytica, Yeast-hypha reversible transition | 
| Abstract | The fungal organisms, especially pathogens, change their vegetative (Y, unicellular yeast and H, hypha) morphology reversibly for survival and proliferation in the host environment. NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD-GDH, EC 1.4.1.2) from a non-pathogenic dimorphic zygomycete Benjaminiella poitrasii was previously reported to be an important biochemical correlate of the transition process. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity and characterized. It is a 371 kDa native molecular weight protein made up of four identical subunits. Kinetic studies showed that unlike other NAD-GDHs, it may act as an anabolic enzyme and has more affinity towards 2-oxoglutarate than l-glutamate. Chemical modifications revealed the involvement of single histidine and lysine residues in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation study showed that the NAD-GDH is present in active phosphorylated form in hyphal cells of B. poitrasii. Two of the 1,2,3 triazole linked beta-lactam-bile acid conjugates synthesized in the laboratory (B18, B20) were found to be potent inhibitors of purified NAD-GDH which also significantly affected Y-H transition in B. poitrasii. Furthermore, the compound B20 inhibited germ tube formation during Y-H transition in Candida albicans strains and Yarrowia lipolytica. The possible use of NAD-GDH as a target for antifungal agents is discussed.  |  
| DOI | 10.1007/s10482-013-9921-5 | 
| Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign) | Foreign | 
| Impact Factor (IF) | 2.28 | 
