title: Inhibitory effect of nikkomycin Z on chitin synthases in Candida albicans.
abstract: Nikkomycin Z is a competitive inhibitor of chitin synthases in fungi. It has been reported that it inhibits chitin synthases (Chs) 1 and 3, but not 2, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In our study, we found that: (a) nikkomycin Z inhibited all three Chs isozymes of Candida albicans (CaChs). The IC(50) value for CaChs1 is 15microM, for CaChs2 0.8microM, and for CaChs3 13microM; (b) nikkomycin Z inhibits vegetative growth of C. albicans differently in different growth media; growth inhibition was observed on Spider and corn meal agar plate, but not on Lee's plate; (c) growth inhibition by nikkomycin Z accompanied by the absence of septum and cell wall chitin, which in turn brought about cell lysis. Nikkomycin Z did not lyse cells in Lee's media and lysis was partially prevented in the presence of sorbitol as an osmostabilizer in Spider medium. Therefore, nikkomycin Z prevented the formation of septum and cell wall chitin by inhibiting chitin synthase activities in a growth medium-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chi-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee-Moon
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wonja
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; C011952:nikkomycin; D002687:Chitin Synthase