Ccr4 promotes resolution of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response during host temperature adaptation in Cryptococcus neoformans

Adaptation to host temperature is a prerequisite for any pathogen capable of causing deep infection in humans. Our previous studies demonstrated that a Cryptococcus neoformans ccr4{increment} mutant lacking the major deadenylase involved in regulated mRNA decay was defective in host temperature adaptation and therefore virulence. In this study, the ccr4{increment} mutant was found to exhibit characteristics of chronic unfolded-protein response (UPR) engagement in both the gene expression profile and phenotype. We demonstrate that host temperature adaptation in C. neoformans is accompanied by transient induction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and that Ccr4-dependent posttranscriptional gene regulation contributes to resolution of ER stress during host temperature adaptation.