Effect of phosphatidylcholine on pld gene expression level of Aspergillus fumigatus by the real time PCR method and investigations of these genes using bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Phospholipases are a group of enzymes that breakdown phospholipid molecules producing second products. These second products play a diverse role in the cell such as signal transduction and digestion in humans. In this study, the effect of phospholipids on the expression of pld genes of A. fumigatus was investigated. The pld genes of this fungus were also investigated using bioinformatics studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR was performed to study the expression of pld genes. These genes were investigated using bioinformatics studies. RESULTS: There was more significant expression for all three pld genes when A. fumigatus was grown in the presence of phospholipids in the medium. The sequence of pld genes of A. fumigatus was also interrogated using bioinformatics analysis and their relationship with the other microorganisms was investigated. The fungal pld genes were more closely related to pld genes from animals and least related to bacterial pld genes. CONCLUSION: afpld1, afpld2 and afpld3 are expressed and are up-regulated by phosphatidylcholine. Although indirect evidence of extracellular PLD activity in A. fumigatus was demonstrated, conclusive proof by partially sequencing the isolated protein will be needed and its significance in pathogenicity will have to be assessed by constructing a knockout strain and testing its virulence in a mouse model.