Response to carbon starvation in cryptococcus neoformans

The pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans is largely attributed to the impact of the polysaccharide capsule on survival of the fungus in the harsh conditions of the host. These conditions include a robust immune response and nutrient limitation in different tissues. Little is known about the survival mechanisms of C. neoformans in nutrient-deprived conditions, and a key unanswered question is whether the fungus can reuse capsule material during conditions of carbon limitation. We addressed this question by measuring alterations in capsule and cell wall in response to carbon limitation and found an influence on capsule porosity and density without a change in diameter. RNA-seq analysis of the response to carbon limitation identified transcripts for enzymes with potential relevance to polysaccharide changes, including carbohydrate-active enzymes.