Role of cell membrane homeostasis in the pathogenicity of pathogenic filamentous fungi

Abstract

The cell membrane forms a fundamental part of all living cells and participates in a variety of physiological processes, such as material exchange, stress response, cell recognition, signal transduction, cellular immunity, apoptosis, and pathogenicity. Here, we review the mechanisms and functions of the membrane structure (lipid components of the membrane and the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids), membrane proteins (transmembrane proteins and proteins contributing to membrane curvature), transcriptional regulation, and cell wall components that influence the virulence and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi.

Keywords: Cytoplasmic membrane homeostasis; filamentous fungi; growth and development; membrane curvature; membrane lipid metabolism; pathogenicity.

Figure 1.

Formation of membrane curvature in pathogenic filamentous fungi. A. Morphology of fungi during early spore germination. B. The dividing or germinating germ tube in yeast cells infected with pathogenic fungus. C. Hypha of pathogenic filamentous fungi. The red boxes indicate the positions of potential membrane curvature at different developmental stages. D. Factors contributing to the formation of membrane curvature. a. Induction of curvature in the cell membrane by the insertion of mosaic membrane proteins. b. Effects of membrane curvature on the combination of polar fatty acid chains and various lipid components. c. Membrane bending caused by interaction between membrane proteins and cytoskeletal proteins.

Figure 2.

Schematic diagram of the effects of cell membrane homeostasis on the growth and development of pathogenic filamentous fungi. This involves interactions between membrane lipid components, transmembrane proteins, cytoskeletal, and cell wall components, as well as the formation of membrane curvature, to maintain the integrity of the cell membrane assembly, structure, and function in pathogenic fungi at various stages of cell development, thus maintaining homeostasis of the cell membrane and contributing to fungal virulence. The blue and green notes respectively represent cell membrane homeostasis involved in the activity of filamentous fungi at the cytological level and microbial onto developmental level.