Abstract
Fermentation and aerobic respiration in mitochondria are coordinately regulated and compensated either when C. albicans grows in vitro or in the hosts, and the creature gain the strong viability. It’s insufficient to influent the growth, reproduction and pathogenicity of C. albicans by inhibiting the electron transport chain (ECT) CI, CII, CIII, CV, or fermentation related gene ADH1. Our study showed that the induction of AA (inhibitor of complex III) rather than SHAM (alternative oxidase inhibitor) abolishes the mitochondrial function completely （96% less ATP generation, 59% reduction in MMP), and increases ROS production significantly in ADH1-deleted mutant ( adh1Δ/ adh1Δ ) that in turn becomes hypersensitive to azole and apoptosis, less viable and more difficult to form hyphae. At the same time, the expression of virulence related genes ALS3 and HWP1 were significantly lower than that of WT under AA induction. Under the induction of AA, the mitochondrial function of WT was slightly damaged and cell apoptosis increased slightly，ROS production and sensitivity of azoles increased significantly, but mycelium formation and the growth of cells were not affected. Under aerobic growth, we observed an ADH1 - dependent mitochondrial effect in C. albicans demonstrated by 64% less ATP generation, 58% reduction in MMP and significant elevations of the ROS and apoptosis in ADH1 -deleted mutant. However, mycelium formation and azole susceptibility are not affected.
Our results suggested that ADH1 plus CIII played an important role in antifungal activity by damaging mitochondrial function, inhibiting cell growth and hyphae formation, promoting apoptosis and reducing pathogenicity.
The role of mitochondrial complex III in melatonin-induced ROS production in cultured mesangial cells