Expression of the Candida albicans gene ALS1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces adherence to endothelial and epithelial cells.
To identify genes encoding adhesins that mediate the binding of Candida albicans to endothelial cells, a genomic library from this organism was constructed and used to transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These transformed organisms were screened for adherence to endothelial cells, and a highly adherent clone was identified. The adherence of this clone to endothelial cells was over 100-fold greater than that of control S. cerevisiae transformed with the empty plasmid. This clone also exhibited enhanced adherence to epithelial cells. The C. albicans gene contained within this clone was found to be ALS1. These results indicate that ALS1 may encode a candidal adhesin.
Fu
Y
Y
St. John's Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute, Torrance, California 90502, USA.
Rieg
G
G
Fonzi
W A
WA
Belanger
P H
PH
Edwards
J E
JE
Filler
S G
SG
D000268:Adhesiveness; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000382:microbiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
C093538:ALS1 protein, Candida albicans; D005656:Fungal Proteins