       Document 0255
 DOCN  M9610255
 TI    Fungal lipopeptide mating pheromones: a model system for the study of
       protein prenylation.
 DT    9601
 AU    Caldwell GA; Naider F; Becker JM; Department of Microbiology, University
       of Tennessee, Knoxville; 37996-0845, USA.
 SO    Microbiol Rev. 1995 Sep;59(3):406-22. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96035697
 AB    In a variety of fungal species, mating between haploid cells is
       initiated by the action of peptide pheromones. The identification and
       characterization of several fungal pheromones has revealed that they
       have common structural features classifying them as lipopeptides. In the
       course of biosynthesis, these pheromones undergo a series of
       posttranslational processing events prior to export. One common
       modification is the attachment of an isoprenoid group to the C terminus
       of the pheromone precursor. Genetic and biochemical investigations of
       this biosynthetic pathway have led to the elucidation of genes and
       enzymes which are responsible for isoprenylation of other polypeptides
       including the nuclear lamins, several vesicular transport proteins, and
       the oncogene product Ras. The alpha-factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
       serves as a model for studying the biosynthesis, export, and bioactivity
       of lipopeptide pheromones. In addition to being isoprenylated with a
       farnesyl group, the alpha-factor is secreted by a novel peptide export
       pathway utilizing a yeast homolog of the mammalian multidrug resistance
       P-glycoprotein. The identification of putative lipopeptide-encoding loci
       within other fungi, including the human immunodeficiency
       virus-associated opportunistic pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and the
       plant pathogen Ustilago maydis, has stimulated much interest in
       understanding possible roles for pheromones in fungal proliferation and
       pathogenicity. Knowledge of variations within the processing, export,
       and receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways associated with
       different fungal lipopeptide pheromones will continue to provide
       insights into similar mechanisms which exist in higher eukaryotes.
 DE    Amino Acid Sequence  Fungal
       Proteins/BIOSYNTHESIS/CHEMISTRY/GENETICS/*PHYSIOLOGY  Fungi/*PHYSIOLOGY
       Lipoproteins/BIOSYNTHESIS/CHEMISTRY/GENETICS/*PHYSIOLOGY  Molecular
       Sequence Data  Pheromones/BIOSYNTHESIS/CHEMISTRY/GENETICS/*PHYSIOLOGY
       Protein Isoprenylation/*PHYSIOLOGY  Saccharomyces cerevisiae/PHYSIOLOGY
       Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Variation (Genetics)  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

