title: Membrane fluidity alterations in a cytochrome P-450-deficient mutant of Candida albicans.
abstract: A cytochrome P450-deficient mutant of the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, which accumulates exclusively 14 alpha-methylsterols in place of the normal end product sterol, ergosterol, was examined for alterations in membrane fluidity by electron paramagnetic resonance. The results using four nitroxyl spin labels indicated that exponential phase cultures of the mutant strain, D10, had a uniformly more rigid membrane than similarly grown wild type. Since D10 shows a sterol spectrum similar to that of wild type cells treated with imidazole and triazole antifungal agents, many of the physiological effects reported as the result of azole application may be the result of alterations in membrane fluidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis 46223.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Kleinhans
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Broughton
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Ricker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000172:deficiency*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D009154:Mutation; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; D013261:Sterols; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D004875:Ergosterol