Characterization of an ecto-ATPase activity in Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is the causative agent of pulmonary cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, which are major clinical manifestations in immunosuppressed patients. In the present study, a surface ATPase (ecto-ATPase) was identified in C. neoformans yeast cells. Intact yeasts hydrolyzed adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) at a rate of 29.36 ± 3.36 nmol Pi/h × 108 cells. In the presence of 5 mM MgCl2, this activity was enhanced around 70 times, and an apparent Km for Mg-ATP corresponding to 0.61 mM was determined. Inhibitors of phosphatases, mitochondrial Mg2+-ATPases, V-ATPases, Na+-ATPases or P-ATPases had no effect on the cryptococcal ATPase, but extracellular impermeant compounds reduced enzyme activity in living cells. ATP was the best substrate for the cryptococcal ecto-enzyme, but it also efficiently hydrolyzed inosine 5′-triphosphate (ITP), cytidine 5′-triphosphate (CTP), guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP) and uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP). In the presence of ATP, C. neoformans became less susceptible to the antifungal action of fluconazole. Our results are indicative of the occurrence of a C. neoformans ecto-ATPase that may have a role in fungal physiology.