title: The antimicrobial peptide, psacotheasin induces reactive oxygen species and triggers apoptosis in Candida albicans.
abstract: Previously, the antimicrobial effects and membrane-active action of psacotheasin in Candida albicans were investigated. In this study, we have further found that a series of characteristic cellular changes of apoptosis in C. albicans can be induced by the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, specifically hydroxyl radicals, the well-known important regulators of apoptosis. Cells treated with psacotheasin showed diagnostic markers in yeast apoptosis at early stages: phosphatidylserine externalization from the inner to the outer membrane surface, visualized by Annexin V-staining; mitochondrial membrane depolarization, observed by DiOC6(3) staining; and increase of metacaspase activity, measured using the CaspACE FITC-VAD-FMK. Moreover, DNA fragmentation and condensation also revealed apoptotic phenomena at late stages through the TUNEL assay staining and DAPI staining, respectively. Taken together, our findings suggest that psacotheasin possess an antifungal property in C. albicans via apoptosis as another mode of action.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bomi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jae-Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Juneyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000737:chemistry; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D000935:Antifungal Agents; C492760:FITC-annexin A5; D010455:Peptides; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C552739:psacotheasin peptide, Psacothea hilaris; D020169:Caspases; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate