Stress contingent changes in Hog1 pathway architecture and regulation inCandida albicans
Authors: Day Alison M. , Cao Min , da Silva Dantas Alessandra , Herrero-de-Dios Carmen , Brown Alistair J. P. , Quinn Janet 
Published: June 2024

The Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) is a key mediator of stress resistance and virulence inCandida albicans. Hog1 activation via phosphorylation of the canonical TGY motif is mediated by the Pbs2 MAPKK, which itself is activated by the Ssk2 MAPKKK. Although this three-tiered SAPK signalling module is well characterised, it is unclear how Hog1 activation is regulated in response to different stresses. Functioning upstream of the Ssk2 MAPKKK is a two-component related signal transduction system comprising three sensor histidine kinases, a phosphotransfer protein Ypd1, and a response regulator Ssk1. Here, we report that Ssk1 is a master regulator of the Hog1 SAPK that promotes stress resistance and Hog1 phosphorylation in response to diverse stresses, except high osmotic stress. Notably, we find Ssk1 regulates Hog1 in a two-component independent manner by functioning as a scaffolding protein to promote interactions between the Ssk2 and Pbs2 kinases. We propose this scaffolding function is important to maintain a basal level of Hog1 phosphorylation which is necessary for oxidative stress, but not osmotic stress, mediated Hog1 activation. We find that osmotic stress triggers robust Pbs2 phosphorylation which drives its dissociation from Ssk2. In contrast, Pbs2 is not robustly phosphorylated following oxidative stress and the Ssk1-mediated Ssk2-Pbs2 interaction remains intact. Instead, oxidative stress-stimulated increases in phosphorylated Hog1 is dependent on the inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases that negatively regulate Hog1 coupled with the Ssk1-mediated promotion of basal Hog1 activity. Furthermore, we find that inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases is linked to the hydrogen peroxide induced oxidation of these negative regulators in a mechanism that is dependent thioredoxin. Taken together these data reveal stress contingent changes in Hog1 pathway architecture and regulation and uncover a novel mode of action of the Ssk1 response regulator in SAPK regulation.

Author summary

As a core stress regulator, the Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), is a key virulence determinant in many fungal pathogens. Despite this, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which different stresses trigger the phosphorylation and activation of Hog1. Here we present three novel findings regarding Hog1 regulation in the human fungal pathogenC. albicans. Firstly, we find that the response regulator protein, Ssk1, is a master regulator of Hog1 that forms a scaffold for the upstream Hog1-activating kinases, Ssk2 and Pbs2. Secondly, this scaffolding role maintains a basal level of Hog1 phosphorylation, which is important for responses to stresses, such as oxidative stress, that do not stimulate activation of the upstream Ssk2 and Pbs2 kinases. Instead, oxidative stress induced Hog1 phosphorylation is mediated through the oxidation and inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases that negatively regulate Hog1. Finally, we show that high osmotic stress induces the robust phosphorylation and activation of the upstream kinase Pbs2, which drives its dissociation from the Ssk1-mediated scaffold. These new insights into the regulation of theC. albicansHog1 SAPK pathway offer new strategies to therapeutically target this core virulence determinant.