Genome-wide expression profiling of the response to azole, polyene, echinocandin, and pyrimidine antifungal agents in Candida albicans.
Antifungal agents exert their activity through a variety of mechanisms, some of which are poorly understood. We examined changes in the gene expression profile of Candida albicans following exposure to representatives of the four currently available classes of antifungal agents used in the treatment of systemic fungal infections. Ketoconazole exposure increased expression of genes involved in lipid, fatty acid, and sterol metabolism, including NCP1, MCR1, CYB5, ERG2, ERG3, ERG10, ERG25, ERG251, and that encoding the azole target, ERG11. Ketoconazole also increased expression of several genes associated with azole resistance, including CDR1, CDR2, IFD4, DDR48, and RTA3. Amphotericin B produced changes in the expression of genes involved in small-molecule transport (ENA21), and in cell stress (YHB1, CTA1, AOX1, and SOD2). Also observed was decreased expression of genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, including ERG3 and ERG11. Caspofungin produced changes in expression of genes encoding cell wall maintenance proteins, including the beta-1,3-glucan synthase subunit GSL22, as well as PHR1, ECM21, ECM33, and FEN12. Flucytosine increased the expression of proteins involved in purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis, including YNK1, FUR1, and that encoding its target, CDC21. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR was used to confirm microarray results. Genes responding similarly to two or more drugs were also identified. These data shed new light on the effects of these classes of antifungal agents on C. albicans.
Liu
Teresa T
TT
Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Room 304 West Patient Tower, Children's Foundation Research Center, 50 North Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Lee
Robin E B
RE
Barker
Katherine S
KS
Lee
Richard E
RE
Wei
Lai
L
Homayouni
Ramin
R
Rogers
P David
PD
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; D054714:Echinocandins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011090:Polyenes; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000666:Amphotericin B; C007572:echinocandin B; D005437:Flucytosine; D000077336:Caspofungin; C030986:pyrimidine; D007654:Ketoconazole