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A Possible Involvement of Sialidase in the Cell Response of the Antarctic Fungus Penicillium griseofulvum P29 to Oxidative Stress

Summary

Researchers studied a special fungus from Antarctica that produces an enzyme called sialidase. When temperatures dropped dramatically, the fungus activated this enzyme along with other protective defenses to survive. The study found that under extreme cold stress, sialidase activity increased significantly, suggesting it helps the fungus protect itself from oxidative damage caused by freezing temperatures. This is the first discovery showing sialidase plays an important role in how Antarctic fungi survive in their extreme environment.

Background

Sialidases are enzymes that remove terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Previous research identified sialidase distribution in non-clinical fungal isolates from various ecological niches including Antarctica. Fungi adapted to extremely low temperatures possess defense mechanisms for survival under oxidative stress, though the relationship between oxidative stress and sialidase synthesis has been rarely studied.

Objective

This study investigated the involvement of sialidase in the cellular response of the Antarctic strain Penicillium griseofulvum P29 against oxidative stress induced by long-term and short-term exposure to low temperatures. The research examined stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activity, and sialidase synthesis under various temperature conditions.

Results

Long-term cold stress (15-20°C) significantly increased sialidase activity by 24-64% compared to optimal temperature. Short-term temperature downshift to 6°C caused 3.3-fold increase in superoxide anion and 2.1-fold increase in hydrogen peroxide production. Cold stress induced sharp increases in SOD and CAT activity, protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation (MDA content), and reserve carbohydrates (trehalose and glycogen), with concurrent 2.7-fold increase in sialidase activity at 6°C.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates for the first time that sialidase activity increases significantly in filamentous fungi from extreme cold environments as a response to oxidative stress. The coordinated upregulation of sialidase with antioxidant enzymes suggests sialidase plays a protective role in the cellular response to low-temperature-induced oxidative stress in the Antarctic fungus P. griseofulvum P29.
  • Published in:Life (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40566577, DOI: 10.3390/life15060926
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