A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens delves into the intricate mechanisms of protein homeostasis in Candida glabrata, an opportunistic human pathogen known for its resistance to standard antifungal treatments. The research, led by Dipika Gupta, Renu Shukla, and Krishnaveni Mishra from the University of Hyderabad, highlights the critical role of SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) in regulating protein stability within the pathogen.
The study reveals that the deSUMOylase enzyme CgUlp2, in combination with STUbLs like CgSlx8, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular protein balance. Disruptions in this pathway lead to excessive protein degradation, impairing key processes such as purine biosynthesis and mitochondrial function. Notably, the absence of these ligases significantly reduces C. glabrata’s ability to survive within host macrophages, underlining their potential as targets for novel antifungal therapies.
These findings open new possibilities for developing antifungal treatments that target the SUMOylation pathway, offering hope against drug-resistant fungal infections.
