Paracoccidioidomycosis is a highly prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America, caused by fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. Copper is essential for eukaryotes and bacteria. This micronutrient is used in many vital biochemical processes, although metal excess levels can be toxic for organisms. Pathways underlying copper overload are poorly understood in members of the Paracoccidioides complex. The responses of Paracoccidioides lutzii yeast cells to copper overload were here evaluated. The results showed that under copper overload, cells presented a dark brown pigment, identified as melanin. Proteomic analyses identified mainly the accumulation of proteins related to amino acids metabolism, ergosterol synthesis and melanin production, suggesting that P. lutzii responds to copper overload by changing aspects of its metabolism and also plasma membrane and cell wall remodeling. Proteomic data were confirmed by biochemical analysis.

副球菌病是一种在拉丁美洲非常普遍的全身性真菌病，由副球菌属的真菌引起。铜对于真核生物和细菌必不可少。这种微量营养素可用于许多重要的生化过程，尽管金属过量会对生物体产生毒性。在Paracoccidioides复合体的成员中，对铜过载的潜在途径了解甚少。在这里评估了卢氏副球菌酵母细胞对铜超负荷的响应。结果表明，在铜超负荷下，细胞呈现出暗褐色的色素，被鉴定为黑色素。蛋白质组学分析主要确定了与氨基酸代谢，麦角固醇合成和黑色素生成有关的蛋白质积累，这表明罗氏疟原虫通过改变铜的代谢以及质膜和细胞壁重塑来应对铜超载。蛋白质组学数据已通过生化分析确认。