C-RUI: Proteomic Profiling of Dimorphism in Penicillium Marneffei

马尔尼菲青霉菌是一种真菌，既可以作为多细胞丝状体（霉菌）生长，也可以作为单细胞实体（酵母）生长。 培养温度决定了马尔尼菲青霉形成的特定形状。 在25 ℃（室温）下，真菌的霉菌阶段产生，而在37 ℃（体温）下孵育会导致马尔尼菲青霉菌作为酵母菌生长。 我们假设有特定的蛋白质负责引起或维持两种细胞类型中的任何一种的生长。 为了验证我们的假设，我们将开发由马尔尼菲青霉的霉菌和酵母相产生的所有蛋白质的谱，然后确定哪些蛋白质是唯一存在或不存在的。 为了制作图谱，我们将采用二维凝胶电泳技术，根据大小和电荷分离蛋白质。 独特的蛋白质将被分离出来，随后进行质谱分析，这种技术可以帮助确定蛋白质的潜在身份和功能。 通过发现这些独特蛋白的目的，可以检测对马尔尼菲青霉细胞发育重要的关键代谢途径。 总的来说，这种科学方法应该提供数据，从而更好地了解控制马尔尼菲青霉菌和相关真菌生长的基础，也许还包括其他微生物。

Penicillium marneffei is a fungus capable of growth either as a multicellular filament (mould) or as a single-celled entity (yeast). The temperature of incubation dictates the particular shape that P. marneffei forms. At 25C (room temperature), the mould phase of the fungus is produced, whereas incubation at 37 (body temperature) causes P. marneffei to grow as a yeast. We hypothesize that there are specific proteins responsible for causing or maintaining growth in either of the two cell types. To test our hypothesis, we will develop a profile of all the proteins produced by the mould and yeast phases of P. marneffei, then determine which proteins are uniquely present or absent. To make the profile, we will employ the technique of two dimensional gel electrophoresis to separate proteins based upon size and electrical charge. Unique proteins will be isolated and subsequently subjected to mass spectrometry, a technique that can help determine the potential identity and function of a protein. By discovering the purpose of these unique proteins, key metabolic pathways important to cellular development in P. marneffei may be detected. Overall, this scientific approach should provide data leading to a better understanding of the underlying basis controlling growth not only in P. marneffei and related fungi, but perhaps in other microbes as well.