title: The putative vacuolar ATPase subunit Vma7p of Candida albicans is involved in vacuole acidification, hyphal development and virulence.
abstract: The vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) component Vma7p of the human-pathogenic yeast Candida albicans regulates hyphal growth induced by serum and Spider medium and is essential for virulence. In order to characterize the functions of the putative V-ATPase subunit Vma7p of C. albicans, null mutants were generated. The resulting mutants showed reduced vacuole acidification, which correlated with defective growth at alkaline pH. In addition, defects in degradation of intravacuolar putative endosomal structures were observed. vma7 null mutants were sensitive towards the presence of metal ions. It is concluded that the sequestration of toxic ions in the vacuole via a H+ gradient generated by the V-ATPase is affected. The vma7 null mutant strains were avirulent in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. In addition, C. albicans vma7 null mutants and the null mutant strain of the Vma7p-interacting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Vps34p showed similar phenotypes. In summary, the V-ATPase subunit Vma7p is involved in vacuolar ion transport and this transport is required for hyphal growth and virulence of C. albicans.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poltermann
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Schiller University, Department of Microbiology, D-07745 Jena, Germany.|Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wendland
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Härtl
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences, Tatzendpromenade 1b, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Künkel
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology/Hans Knöll Institute, Department of Infection Biology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases