Role of autophagy in the reproduction of pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Autophagy (macroautophagy) is an essential and highly conserved protein degradation mechanism in eukaryotes. In this process, cytoplasmic organelles, old proteins and other macromolecules are sequestered into a double membrane vesicle called autophagosome and delivered to a degradative organelle for degradation and recycling. Extensive studies have revealed that autophagy plays an essential role in the cellular processes such as cell differentiation, nutrient homeostasis and pathogenicity in pathogenic fungi. In this review, we introduce the process of autophagy and describe the role of autophagy in regulation of the fungal sexual reproduction, using the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans as an example. Furthermore, we summarize the autophagy related genes studied so far and the deduced physiological functions of autophagy for proper asexual and/or sexual reproduction in model pathogenic fungi. We also discuss perspectives on autophagy function in fungal reproduction.