Characterization of a High-Affinity Copper Transporter in the White-Nose Syndrome Causing Fungal Pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans .

Copper is an essential micronutrient and the ability to scavenge tightly bound or trace levels of copper ions at the host-pathogen interface is vital for fungal proliferation in animal hosts. Recent studies suggest that trace metal ion acquisition is critical for the establishment and propagation of Pseudogymnoascus destructans , the fungal pathogen responsible for white-nose syndrome (WNS), on their bat host. However, little is known about these metal acquisition pathways in P. destructans . In this study, we report the characterization of the P. destructans high-affinity copper transporter VC83_00191 ( Pd CTR1a), which is implicated as a virulence factor associated with the WNS disease state. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a recombinant expression host, we find that Pd CTR1a localizes to the cell surface plasma membrane and can efficiently traffic Cu-ions into the yeast cytoplasm. Complementary studies in the native P. destructans fungus provide evidence that Pd CTR1a transcripts and protein levels are dictated by Cu-bioavailability in the growth media. Our study demonstrates that Pd CTR1a is a functional high-affinity copper transporter and is relevant to Cu-homeostasis pathways in P. destructans .