scholarly journals Regulation of Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis by Endogenous Signals

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kornitzer
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Hyphal Morphogenesis ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Opportunistic Human Pathogen ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
Transcription Program

Candida albicans is a human commensal fungus that is able to assume several morphologies, including yeast, hyphal, and pseudohyphal. Under a range of conditions, C. albicans performs a regulated switch to the filamentous morphology, characterized by the emergence of a germ tube from the yeast cell, followed by a mold-like growth of branching hyphae. This transition from yeast to hyphal growth has attracted particular attention, as it has been linked to the virulence of C. albicans as an opportunistic human pathogen. Signal transduction pathways that mediate the induction of the hyphal transcription program upon the imposition of external stimuli have been extensively investigated. However, the hyphal morphogenesis transcription program can also be induced by internal cellular signals, such as inhibition of cell cycle progression, and conversely, the inhibition of hyphal extension can repress hyphal-specific gene expression, suggesting that endogenous cellular signals are able to modulate hyphal gene expression as well. Here we review recent developments in the regulation of the hyphal morphogenesis of C. albicans, with emphasis on endogenous morphogenetic signals.

scholarly journals Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Budded-to-Hyphal-Form Transition in the Pathogenic Yeast Candida albicans

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 963-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Toenjes ◽  
Suzanne M. Munsee ◽  
Ashraf S. Ibrahim ◽  
Rachel Jeffrey ◽  
John E. Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Morphological Transition ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Latrunculin A ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Derivatives Of

ABSTRACT The pathogenic yeast Candida albicans can exist in multiple morphological states, including budded, pseudohyphal, and true hyphal forms. The ability to convert between the budded and hyphal forms, termed the budded-to-hyphal-form transition, is important for virulence and is regulated by multiple environmental and cellular signals. To identify inhibitors of this morphological transition, a microplate-based morphological assay was developed. With this assay, the known actin-inhibiting drugs latrunculin-A and jasplakinolide were shown to inhibit the transition in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. Five novel small molecules that reversibly inhibited the transition and hyphal elongation without affecting budded growth were identified. These molecules inhibited hyphal growth induced by Spider, Lee's, M199 pH 8, and 10% serum-containing media, with two molecules having a synergistic effect. The molecules also differentially affected the hyphal form-specific gene expression of HWP1 and endocytosis without disrupting the actin cytoskeleton or septin organization. Structural derivatives of one of the molecules were more effective inhibiters than the original molecule, while other derivatives had decreased efficacies. Several of the small molecules were able to reduce C. albicans-dependent damage to endothelial cells by inhibiting the budded-to-hyphal-form transition. These studies substantiated the effectiveness of the morphological assay and identified several novel molecules that, by virtue of their ability to inhibit the budded-to-hyphal-form transition, may be exploited as starting points for effective antifungal therapeutics in the future.

scholarly journals Hyphal growth inCandida albicansdoes not require induction of hyphal-specific gene expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1174-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamoon Naseem ◽  
Esteban Araya ◽  
James B. Konopka
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Ph Sensing ◽  
Triple Mutant ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Hyphal Morphogenesis ◽  
Transcriptional Induction

Various stimuli, including N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), induce the fungal pathogen Candida albicans to switch from budding to hyphal growth. Previous studies suggested that hyphal morphogenesis is stimulated by transcriptional induction of a set of genes that includes known virulence factors. To better understand hyphal development, we examined the role of GlcNAc metabolism using a triple mutant lacking the genes required to metabolize exogenous GlcNAc ( hxk1Δ nag1Δ dac1Δ). Surprisingly, at low ambient pH (∼pH 4), GlcNAc stimulated this mutant to form hyphae without obvious induction of hyphal genes. This indicates that GlcNAc can stimulate a separate signal to induce hyphae that is independent of transcriptional responses. Of interest, GlcNAc could induce the triple mutant to express hyphal genes when the medium was buffered to a higher pH (>pH 5), which normally occurs after GlcNAc catabolism. Catabolism of GlcNAc raises the ambient pH rather than acidifying it, as occurs after dextrose catabolism. This synergy between alkalinization and GlcNAc to induce hyphal genes involves the Rim101 pH-sensing pathway; GlcNAc induced rim101Δ and dfg16Δ mutants to form hyphae, but hyphal gene expression was partially defective. These results demonstrate that hyphal morphogenesis and gene expression can be regulated independently, which likely contributes to pathogenesis at different host sites.

scholarly journals E2f3a and E2f3b Contribute to the Control of Cell Proliferation and Mouse Development

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 414-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Leon Chong ◽  
Shih-Yin Tsai ◽  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Rene Opavsky ◽  
Richard Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Redundant Functions

ABSTRACT The E2f3 locus encodes two Rb-binding gene products, E2F3a and E2F3b, which are differentially regulated during the cell cycle and are thought to be critical for cell cycle progression. We targeted the individual inactivation of E2f3a or E2f3b in mice and examined their contributions to cell proliferation and development. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene expression experiments using mouse embryo fibroblasts deficient in each isoform showed that E2F3a and E2F3b contribute to G1/S-specific gene expression and cell proliferation. Expression of E2f3a or E2f3b was sufficient to support E2F target gene expression and cell proliferation in the absence of other E2F activators, E2f1 and E2f2, suggesting that these isoforms have redundant functions. Consistent with this notion, E2f3a −/− and E2f3b −/− embryos developed normally, whereas embryos lacking both isoforms (E2f3 −/−) died in utero. We also find that E2f3a and E2f3b have redundant and nonredundant roles in the context of Rb mutation. Analysis of double-knockout embryos suggests that the ectopic proliferation and apoptosis in Rb −/− embryos is mainly mediated by E2f3a in the placenta and nervous system and by both E2f3a and E2f3b in lens fiber cells. Together, we conclude that the contributions of E2F3a and E2F3b in cell proliferation and development are context dependent.

scholarly journals Sep7 Is Essential to Modify Septin Ring Dynamics and Inhibit Cell Separation during Candida albicans Hyphal Growth

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1509-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto González-Novo ◽  
Jaime Correa-Bordes ◽  
Leticia Labrador ◽  
Miguel Sánchez ◽  
Carlos R. Vázquez de Aldana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Separation ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Septin Ring ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Hyphal Morphogenesis ◽  
Hypha Formation ◽  
Ring Dynamics ◽  
Cytoskeleton Dynamics

When Candida albicans yeast cells receive the appropriate stimulus, they switch to hyphal growth, characterized by continuous apical elongation and the inhibition of cell separation. The molecular basis of this inhibition is poorly known, despite its crucial importance for hyphal development. In C. albicans, septins are important for hypha formation and virulence. Here, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis to characterize the dynamics of septin rings during yeast and hyphal growth. On hyphal induction, septin rings are converted to a hyphal-specific state, characterized by the presence of a frozen core formed by Sep7/Shs1, Cdc3 and Cdc12, whereas Cdc10 is highly dynamic and oscillates between the ring and the cytoplasm. Conversion of septin rings to the hyphal-specific state inhibits the translocation of Cdc14 phosphatase, which controls cell separation, to the hyphal septum. Modification of septin ring dynamics during hyphal growth is dependent on Sep7 and the hyphal-specific cyclin Hgc1, which partially controls Sep7 phosphorylation status and protein levels. Our results reveal a link between the cell cycle machinery and septin cytoskeleton dynamics, which inhibits cell separation in the filaments and is essential for hyphal morphogenesis.

A putative dual-specific protein phosphatase encoded by YVH1 controls growth, filamentation and virulence in Candida albicans

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2223-2232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomu Hanaoka ◽  
Takashi Umeyama ◽  
Keigo Ueno ◽  
Kenji Ueda ◽  
Teruhiko Beppu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Germ Tube ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cycle Progression

In response to stimulants, such as serum, the yeast cells of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans form germ tubes, which develop into hyphae. Yvh1p, one of the 29 protein phosphatases encoded in the C. albicans genome, has 45 % identity with the dual-specific phosphatase Yvh1p of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, Yvh1p expression was not observed during the initial step of germ tube formation, although Yvh1p was expressed constitutively in cell cycle progression of yeast or hyphal cells. In an attempt to analyse the function of Yvh1p phosphatase, the complete ORFs of both alleles were deleted by replacement with hph200–URA3–hph200 and ARG4. Although YVH1 has nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms in its coding sequence, both YVH1 alleles were able to complement the YVH1 gene disruptant. The vegetative growth of Δyvh1 was significantly slower than the wild-type. The hyphal growth of Δyvh1 on agar, or in a liquid medium, was also slower than the wild-type because of the delay in nuclear division and septum formation, although germ tube formation was similar between the wild-type and the disruptant. Despite the slow hyphal growth, the expression of several hypha-specific genes in Δyvh1 was not delayed or repressed compared with that of the wild-type. Infection studies using mouse models revealed that the virulence of Δyvh1 was less than that of the wild-type. Thus, YVH1 contributes to normal vegetative yeast or hyphal cell cycle progression and pathogenicity, but not to germ tube formation.

scholarly journals Stage-specific gene expression of Candida albicans in human blood

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 1523-1543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Fradin ◽  
Marianne Kretschmar ◽  
Thomas Nichterlein ◽  
Claude Gaillardin ◽  
Christophe D’Enfert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Human Blood ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Gene Expression

scholarly journals The Functions of Mediator in Candida albicans Support a Role in Shaping Species-Specific Gene Expression

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e1002613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Uwamahoro ◽  
Yue Qu ◽  
Branka Jelicic ◽  
Tricia L. Lo ◽  
Cecile Beaurepaire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Gene Expression ◽  
Species Specific

scholarly journals Candida albicans Ubiquitin and Heat Shock Factor-Type Transcriptional Factors Are Involved in 2-Dodecenoic Acid-Mediated Inhibition of Hyphal Growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Dongliang Yang ◽  
Yanling Hu ◽  
Zixin Yin ◽  
Qianru Gao ◽  
Yuqian Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Filamentous Growth ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Hyphal Morphogenesis ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Exogenous Addition ◽  
Diffusible Signal Factor ◽  
Factor Type ◽  
Hyphal Formation

Cis-2-dodecenoic acid (i.e., Burkholderia cenocepacia Diffusible Signal Factor, BDSF), a signaling molecule produced by Burkholderia cenocepacia but not by Candida albicans, can prevent Candida albicans hyphal formation. The mechanism by which BDSF controls the morphological switch of C. albicans is still unknown. To address this issue, we used the cDNA microarray method to investigate the differential expression of genes in C. albicans in the presence and absence of BDSF. The microarray result indicated that 305 genes were significantly different in the expression level. This included the downregulation of 75 genes and the upregulation of 230 genes. Based on the microarray data, a mutant library was screened to search for genes, once mutated, conferred insensitivity to BDSF. The results showed that the repressors (Ubi4 and Sfl1 proteins) and the activator (Sfl2 protein) of filamentous growth are involved in the BDSF regulation of hyphal morphogenesis. Ubi4, an ubiquitin polypeptide that participates in ubiquitin-mediated protein turnover, is the protein required for the degradation of Sfl2. Sfl1 and Sfl2 proteins antagonistically control C. albicans morphogenesis. In the hyphal induction condition, the amount of Ubi4 and Sfl1 protein increased rapidly with the exogenous addition of BDSF. As a result, the protein level of the activator of filamentous growth, Sfl2, decreased correspondingly, thereby facilitating the C. albicans cells to remain in the yeast form.

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