title: ALS3 and ALS8 represent a single locus that encodes a Candida albicans adhesin; functional comparisons between Als3p and Als1p.
abstract: The ALS (agglutinin-like sequence) gene family of Candida albicans encodes eight cell-surface glycoproteins, some of which are involved in adherence to host surfaces. A mutational analysis of each ALS gene is currently being performed to deduce the functions of the encoded proteins and to better understand the role of these proteins in C. albicans biology and pathogenesis. This paper describes construction of an als3/als3 mutant and comparison of its phenotype to an als1/als1 strain. Efforts to disrupt ALS3 indicated that the gene could be deleted in two transformation steps, suggesting that the gene is encoded by a single locus and that the ALS3-like locus, ALS8, does not exist. Strains lacking ALS3 or ALS1 did not exhibit a defect in germ tube formation when grown in RPMI 1640 medium, but the als1/als1 mutant formed significantly fewer germ tubes in Lee medium. Analysis of ALS3 and ALS1 promoter activity using green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter strains and flow cytometry showed that when cells are placed into medium that promotes germ tube formation, ALS1 is transcribed prior to ALS3. Comparison of the mutant strains in adhesion assays showed that the als3/als3 strain was defective in adhesion to both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and buccal epithelial cells (BEC), but not to fibronectin-coated plastic plates. In contrast, the als1/als1 strain showed decreased adherence to HUVEC, but adherence to BEC and fibronectin were the same as wild-type controls. Inoculation of the buccal reconstituted human epithelium (RHE) model of oral candidiasis with the mutant strains showed nearly a total lack of adhesion and epithelial destruction by the als3/als3 mutant while the als1/als1 strain showed only a slightly reduced degree of epithelial destruction compared to the wild-type control. Adhesion data presented here suggest that, in the assays performed, loss of Als3p affects C. albicans adhesion more than loss of Als1p. Collectively, these results demonstrate functional similarities and differences between Als1p and Als3p, and suggest the potential for more complex interrelationships between the ALS genes and their encoded proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Soon-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Clayton B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nuessen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yeater
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Roger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Alistair J P
authors.initials: AJP
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Lois L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hoyer
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000382:microbiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: C093538:ALS1 protein, Candida albicans; C113620:ALS3 protein, Candida albicans; D005656:Fungal Proteins