scholarly journals PHR1, a pH-regulated gene of Candida albicans, is required for morphogenesis.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Saporito-Irwin ◽  
C E Birse ◽  
P S Sypherd ◽  
W A Fonzi
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Predicted Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
Environmental Signals

Candida albicans, like many fungi, exhibits morphological plasticity, a property which may be related to its biological capacity as an opportunistic pathogen of humans. Morphogenesis and alterations in cell shape require integration of many cellular functions and occur in response to environmental signals, most notably pH and temperature in the case of C. albicans. In the course of our studies of differential gene expression associated with dimorphism of C. albicans, we have isolated a gene, designated PHR1, which is regulated in response to the pH of the culture medium. PHR1 expression was repressed at pH values below 5.5 and induced at more alkaline pH. The predicted amino acid sequence of the PHR1 protein was 56% identical to that of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ggp1/Gas1 protein, a highly glycosylated cell surface protein attached to the membrane via glycosylphosphatidylinositol. A homozygous null mutant of PHR1 was constructed and found to exhibit a pH-conditional morphological defect. At alkaline pH, the mutant, unlike the parental type, was unable to conduct apical growth of either yeast or hyphal growth forms. This morphological aberration was not associated with defective cytoskeletal polarization or secretion. The results suggest that PHR1 defines a novel function required for apical cell growth and morphogenesis.

scholarly journals PHR2 of Candida albicans encodes a functional homolog of the pH-regulated gene PHR1 with an inverted pattern of pH-dependent expression.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 5960-5967 ◽  
Author(s):  
F A Mühlschlegel ◽  
W A Fonzi
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Predicted Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Acidic Ph ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Functional Homolog ◽  
Morphological Defects

Deletion of PHR1, a pH-regulated gene of Candida albicans, results in pH-conditional defects in growth, morphogenesis, and virulence evident at neutral to alkaline pH but absent at acidic pH. Consequently, we searched for a functional homolog of PHR1 active at low pH. This resulted in the isolation of a second pH-regulated gene, designated PHR2. The expression of PHR2 was inversely related to that of PHR1, being repressed at pH values above 6 and progressively induced at more acidic pH values. The predicted amino acid sequence of the PHR2 protein, Phr2p, was 54% identical to that of Phr1p. A PHR2 null mutant exhibited pH-conditional defects in growth and morphogenesis analogous to those of PHR1 mutants but manifest at acid rather than alkaline pH values. Engineered expression of PHR1 at acid pH in a PHR2 mutant strain and PHR2 at alkaline pH in a PHR1 mutant strain complemented the defects in the opposing mutant. Deletion of both PHR1 and PHR2 resulted in a strain with pH-independent, constitutive growth and morphological defects. These results indicate that PHR1 and PHR2 represent a novel pH-balanced system of functional homologs required for C. albicans to adapt to environments of diverse pH.

scholarly journals Rac1 and Cdc42 Have Different Roles in Candida albicans Development

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Bassilana ◽  
Robert A. Arkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Filamentous Growth ◽  
Fluorescence Recovery

ABSTRACT We investigated the role of the highly conserved G protein Rac1 in the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. We identified and disrupted RAC1 and show here that, in contrast to CDC42, it is not necessary for viability or serum-induced hyphal growth but is essential for filamentous growth when cells are embedded in a matrix. Rac1 is localized to the plasma membrane, yet its distribution is more homogenous than that of Cdc42, with no enrichment at the tips of either buds or hyphae. In addition, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching results indicate that Rac1 and Cdc42 have different dynamics at the membrane. Furthermore, overexpression of Rac1 does not complement Cdc42 function, and conversely, overexpression of Cdc42 does not complement Rac1 function. Thus, Rac1 and Cdc42, although highly similar to one another, have different roles in C. albicans development.

scholarly journals An Opaque Cell-Specific Expression Program of Secreted Proteases and Transporters Allows Cell-Type Cooperation in Candida albicans

Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 216 (2) ◽  
pp. 409-429
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Lohse ◽  
Lucas R. Brenes ◽  
Naomi Ziv ◽  
Michael B. Winter ◽  
Charles S. Craik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Single Genome ◽  
Distinct Cell ◽  
Secreted Proteases ◽  
Expression Program

An unusual feature of the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is its ability to switch stochastically between two distinct, heritable cell types called white and opaque. Here, we show that only opaque cells, in response to environmental signals, massively upregulate a specific group of secreted proteases and peptide transporters, allowing exceptionally efficient use of proteins as sources of nitrogen. We identify the specific proteases [members of the secreted aspartyl protease (SAP) family] needed for opaque cells to proliferate under these conditions, and we identify four transcriptional regulators of this specialized proteolysis and uptake program. We also show that, in mixed cultures, opaque cells enable white cells to also proliferate efficiently when proteins are the sole nitrogen source. Based on these observations, we suggest that one role of white-opaque switching is to create mixed populations where the different phenotypes derived from a single genome are shared between two distinct cell types.

scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Control of HGC1 Expression Results in Hgc1 Localization to the Apical Cells of Hyphae in Candida albicans

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Wang ◽  
Shelley Lane ◽  
Zhen Tian ◽  
Amir Sharon ◽  
Idit Hazan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Spatial Control ◽  
Apical Cells ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

ABSTRACT The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans can undergo a morphological transition from a unicellular yeast growth form to a multicellular hyphal growth form. During hyphal growth, cell division is asymmetric. Only the apical cell divides, whereas subapical cells remain in G1, and cell surface growth is highly restricted to the tip of the apical cell. Hgc1, a hypha-specific, G1 cyclin-like protein, is essential for hyphal development. Here, we report, using indirect immunofluorescence, that Hgc1 is preferentially localized to the dividing apical cells of hyphae. Hgc1 protein is rapidly degraded in a cell cycle-independent manner, and the protein turnover likely occurs in both the apical and the subapical cells of hyphae. In addition to rapid protein turnover, the HGC1 transcript is also dynamically regulated during cell cycle progression in hyphal growth. It is induced upon germ tube formation in early G1; the transcript level is reduced during the G1/S transition and peaks again around the G2/M phase in the subsequent cell cycles. Transcription from the HGC1 promoter is essential for its apical cell localization, as Hgc1 no longer exhibits preferential apical localization when expressed under the MAL2 promoter. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, the HGC1 transcript is detected only in the apical cells of hyphae, suggesting that HGC1 is transcribed in the apical cell. Therefore, the preferential localization of Hgc1 to the apical cells of hyphae results from the dynamic temporal and spatial control of HGC1 expression.

scholarly journals Candida albicans Rim13p, a Protease Required for Rim101p Processing at Acidic and Alkaline pHs

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingchun Li ◽  
Samuel J. Martin ◽  
Vincent M. Bruno ◽  
Aaron P. Mitchell ◽  
Dana A. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathway ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Alkaline Conditions ◽  
Processing Event ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Novel Processing

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an important commensal of mucosal surfaces that is also an opportunistic pathogen. This organism colonizes a wide range of host sites that differ in pH; thus, it must respond appropriately to this environmental stress to survive. The ability to respond to neutral-to-alkaline pHs is governed in part by the RIM101 signal transduction pathway. Here we describe the analysis of C. albicans Rim13p, a homolog of the Rim13p/PalB calpain-like protease member of the RIM101/pacC pathway from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus nidulans, respectively. RIM13, like other members of the RIM101 pathway, is required for alkaline pH-induced filamentation and growth under extreme alkaline conditions. Further, our studies suggest that the RIM101 pathway promotes pH-independent responses, including resistance to high concentrations of lithium and to the drug hygromycin B. RIM13 encodes a calpain-like protease, and we found that Rim101p undergoes a Rim13p-dependent C-terminal proteolytic processing event at neutral-to-alkaline pHs, similar to that reported for S. cerevisiae Rim101p and A. nidulans PacC. However, we present evidence that suggests that C. albicans Rim101p undergoes a novel processing event at acidic pHs that has not been reported in either S. cerevisiae or A. nidulans. Thus, our results provide a framework to understand how the C. albicans Rim101p processing pathway promotes alkaline pH-independent processes.

scholarly journals Environmentally contingent control of Candida albicans cell wall integrity by transcriptional regulator Cup9

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Ichikawa ◽  
Vincent M Bruno ◽  
Carol A Woolford ◽  
Hannah Kim ◽  
Eunsoo Do ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Yeast Growth ◽  
Transcription Factor Genes ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Rna Levels

Abstract The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is surrounded by a cell wall that is the target of caspofungin and other echinocandin antifungals. C. albicans can grow in several morphological forms, notably budding yeast and hyphae. Yeast and hyphal forms differ in cell wall composition, leading us to hypothesize that there may be distinct genes required for yeast and hyphal responses to caspofungin. Mutants in 27 genes reported previously to be caspofungin hypersensitive under yeast growth conditions were all caspofungin hypersensitive under hyphal growth conditions as well. However, a screen of mutants defective in transcription factor genes revealed that Cup9 is required for normal caspofungin tolerance under hyphal and not yeast growth conditions. In a hyphal-defective efg1Δ/Δ background, Cup9 is still required for normal caspofungin tolerance. This result argues that Cup9 function is related to growth conditions rather than cell morphology. RNA-seq conducted under hyphal growth conditions indicated that 361 genes were up-regulated and 145 genes were down-regulated in response to caspofungin treatment. Both classes of caspofungin-responsive genes were enriched for cell wall-related proteins, as expected for a response to disruption of cell wall integrity and biosynthesis. The cup9Δ/Δ mutant, treated with caspofungin, had reduced RNA levels of 40 caspofungin up-regulated genes, and had increased RNA levels of 8 caspofungin down-regulated genes, an indication that Cup9 has a narrow rather than global role in the cell wall integrity response. Five Cup9-activated surface-protein genes have roles in cell wall integrity, based on mutant analysis published previously (PGA31, IFF11) or shown here (ORF19.3499, ORF19.851 or PGA28), and therefore may explain the hypersensitivity of the cup9Δ/Δ mutant to caspofungin. Our findings define Cup9 as a new determinant of caspofungin susceptibility.

scholarly journals Deletion of the CaBIG1 Gene Reduces β-1,6-Glucan Synthesis, Filamentation, Adhesion, and Virulence in Candida albicans

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 2373-2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Umeyama ◽  
Aki Kaneko ◽  
Hiroshi Watanabe ◽  
Asuka Hirai ◽  
Yoshimasa Uehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Functional Homolog ◽  
Solid Agar ◽  
Adhesion Failure ◽  
Specific Localization ◽  
Glucan Synthesis

ABSTRACT The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is able to change its shape in response to various environmental signals. We analyzed the C. albicans BIG1 homolog, which might be involved in β-1,6-glucan biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. C. albicans BIG1 is a functional homolog of an S. cerevisiae BIG1 gene, because the slow growth of an S. cerevisiae big1 mutant was restored by introduction of C. albicans BIG1. CaBig1p was expressed constitutively in both the yeast and hyphal forms. A specific localization of CaBig1p at the endoplasmic reticulum or plasma membrane similar to the subcellular localization of S. cerevisiae Big1p was observed in yeast form. The content of β-1,6-glucan in the cell wall was decreased in the Cabig1Δ strain in comparison with the wild-type or reconstituted strain. The C. albicans BIG1 disruptant showed reduced filamentation on a solid agar medium and in a liquid medium. The Cabig1Δ mutant showed markedly attenuated virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Adherence to human epithelial HeLa cells and fungal burden in kidneys of infected mice were reduced in the Cabig1Δ mutant. Deletion of CaBIG1 abolished hyphal growth and invasiveness in the kidneys of infected mice. Our results indicate that adhesion failure and morphological abnormality contribute to the attenuated virulence of the Cabig1Δ mutant.

scholarly journals Depletion of the Cullin Cdc53p Induces Morphogenetic Changes in Candida albicans

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 756-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Trunk ◽  
Patrick Gendron ◽  
André Nantel ◽  
Sébastien Lemieux ◽  
Terry Roemer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Essential Gene ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Growth Mode ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase Complex ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Ubiquitination Pathway ◽  
Systemic Infections

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an important opportunistic human fungal pathogen that can cause both mucosal and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. Critical for the virulence of C. albicans is its ability to undergo a morphological transition from yeast to hyphal growth mode. Proper induction of filamentation is dependent on the ubiquitination pathway, which targets proteins for proteasome-mediated protein degradation or activates them for signaling events. In the present study, we evaluated the role of ubiquitination in C. albicans by impairing the function of the major ubiquitin-ligase complex SCF. This was done by depleting its backbone, the cullin Cdc53p (orf19.1674), using a tetracycline downregulatable promoter system. Cdc53p-depleted cells displayed an invasive phenotype and constitutive filamentation under conditions favoring yeast growth mode, both on solid and in liquid media. In addition, these cells exhibited an early onset of cell death, as judged from propidium iodide staining, suggesting that CDC53 is an essential gene in C. albicans. To identify Cdc53p-dependent pathways in C. albicans, a genome-wide expression analysis was carried out that revealed a total of 425 differentially expressed genes (fold change, ≥2; P ≤ 0.05) with 192 up- and 233 downregulated genes in the CDC53-repressed mutant compared to the control strain. GO term analysis identified biological processes significantly affected by Cdc53p depletion, including amino acid starvation response, with 14 genes being targets of the transcriptional regulator Gcn4p, and reductive iron transport. These results indicate that Cdc53p enables C. albicans to adequately respond to environmental signals.

scholarly journals E1210, a New Broad-Spectrum Antifungal, Suppresses Candida albicans Hyphal Growth through Inhibition of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Biosynthesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 960-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nao-aki Watanabe ◽  
Mamiko Miyazaki ◽  
Takaaki Horii ◽  
Koji Sagane ◽  
Kappei Tsukahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Protein Maturation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protein Levels

ABSTRACTContinued research toward the development of new antifungals that act via inhibition of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis led to the design of E1210. In this study, we assessed the selectivity of the inhibitory activity of E1210 againstCandida albicansGWT1(Orf19.6884) protein,Aspergillus fumigatusGWT1(AFUA_1G14870) protein, and humanPIG-Wprotein, which can catalyze the inositol acylation of GPI early in the GPI biosynthesis pathway, and then we assessed the effects of E1210 on keyC. albicansvirulence factors. E1210 inhibited the inositol acylation activity ofC. albicansGwt1p andA. fumigatusGwt1p with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 0.3 to 0.6 μM but had no inhibitory activity against human Pig-Wp even at concentrations as high as 100 μM. To confirm the inhibition of fungal GPI biosynthesis, expression ofALS1protein, a GPI-anchored protein, on the surfaces ofC. albicanscells treated with E1210 was studied and shown to be significantly lower than that on untreated cells. However, theALS1protein levels in the crude extract and theRHO1protein levels on the cell surface were found to be almost the same. Furthermore, E1210 inhibited germ tube formation, adherence to polystyrene surfaces, and biofilm formation ofC. albicansat concentrations above its MIC. These results suggested that E1210 selectively inhibited inositol acylation of fungus-specific GPI which would be catalyzed by Gwt1p, leading to the inhibition of GPI-anchored protein maturation, and also that E1210 suppressed the expression of some important virulence factors ofC. albicans, through its GPI biosynthesis inhibition.

scholarly journals Farnesol and Cyclic AMP Signaling Effects on the Hypha-to-Yeast Transition in Candida albicans

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1219-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allia K. Lindsay ◽  
Aurélie Deveau ◽  
Amy E. Piispanen ◽  
Deborah A. Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Camp Signaling ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Transcriptional Repressors ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTCandida albicans, a fungal pathogen of humans, regulates its morphology in response to many environmental cues and this morphological plasticity contributes to virulence. Farnesol, an autoregulatory molecule produced byC. albicans, inhibits the induction of hyphal growth by inhibiting adenylate cyclase (Cyr1). The role of farnesol and Cyr1 in controlling the maintenance of hyphal growth has been less clear. Here, we demonstrate that preformed hyphae transition to growth as yeast in response to farnesol and that strains with increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling exhibit more resistance to farnesol. Exogenous farnesol did not induce the hypha-to-yeast transition in mutants lacking the Tup1 or Nrg1 transcriptional repressors in embedded conditions. Although body temperature is not required for embedded hyphal growth, we found that the effect of farnesol on the hypha-to-yeast transition varies inversely with temperature. Our model of Cyr1 activity being required for filamentation is also supported by our liquid assay data, which show increased yeast formation when preformed filaments are treated with farnesol. Together, these data suggest that farnesol can modulate morphology in preformed hyphal cells and that the repression of hyphal growth maintenance likely occurs through the inhibition of cAMP signaling.

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