Candida albicans transcription factor Rim101 mediates pathogenic interactions through cell wall functions.
pH-responsive transcription factors of the Rim101/PacC family govern virulence in many fungal pathogens. These family members control expression of target genes with diverse functions in growth, morphology and environmental adaptation, so the mechanistic relationship between Rim101/PacC and infection is unclear. We have focused on Rim101 from Candida albicans, which we find to be required for virulence in an oropharyngeal candidiasis model. Rim101 affects the yeast-hypha morphological transition, a major virulence requirement in disseminated infection models. However, virulence in the oropharyngeal candidiasis model is independent of the yeast-hypha transition because it is unaffected by an nrg1 mutation, which prevents formation of yeast cells. Here we have identified Rim101 target genes in an nrg1Delta/Delta mutant background and surveyed function using an overexpression-rescue approach. Increased expression of Rim101 target genes ALS3, CHT2, PGA7/RBT6, SKN1 or ZRT1 can partially restore pathogenic interaction of a rim101Delta/Delta mutant with oral epithelial cells. Four of these five genes govern cell wall structure. Our results indicate that Rim101-dependent cell wall alteration contributes to C. albicans pathogenic interactions with oral epithelial cells, independently of cell morphology.
Nobile
Clarissa J
CJ
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Solis
Norma
N
Myers
Carter L
CL
Fay
Allison J
AJ
Deneault
Jean-Sebastien
JS
Nantel
Andre
A
Mitchell
Aaron P
AP
Filler
Scott G
SG
D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C489602:RIM101 protein, Candida albicans; D014157:Transcription Factors