Pneumocystis phosphoglucomutase links glucose-phosphate metabolism to β-1,3-glucan synthesis and cell-wall integrity

Pgm2 activity in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae pgm2Δ complementation model is linked to β-1,3-glucan levels and cell-wall function, with pgm2Δ cells showing reduced β-1,3-glucan and altered zymolyase sensitivity.

• Why it matters: The fungal cell wall is coordinated with metabolism, but how glucose-phosphate interconversion feeds β-1,3-glucan synthesis and integrity is not fully defined.
• What they did: Using a S. cerevisiae pgm2Δ strain, the study tested Pgm2 deficiency and complementation with Pjpgm2 or Pmpgm2, then measured β-1,3-glucan, zymolyase sensitivity, and performed bulk RNA sequencing plus qRT-PCR validation.
• The result: Pgm2 deficiency triggered coordinated metabolic and cell-wall transcriptional shifts (including increased SLT2/MPK1, RLM1, FKS2/GSC2, and decreased FKS1, GAS1, GAS3, CHS2) and made cells more susceptible to sublethal caspofungin, while Pneumocystis Pgm2 homologs restored tolerance toward wild-type levels.

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