title: Candida albicans Zcf37, a zinc finger protein, is required for stabilization of the white state.
abstract: Candida albicans, the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, can switch stochastically between white and opaque phases. In this study, we identified Zcf37, a zinc finger protein, as a new regulator of white-opaque switching. Deletion of ZCF37 increased white-to-opaque switching frequency and stabilized the opaque state. Overexpression of ZCF37 promoted conversion of opaque cells to white phase, but needed existence of Efg1, a key regulator required for maintenance of the white state. Deletion of EFG1 abolished the effect of ectopically expressed Zcf37 on opaque-to-white switching, whereas ectopic expression of EFG1 promoted white cell formation without presence of Zcf37. Our results suggest that Zcf37 acts as an activator of white cell formation and a repressor of opaque state and functions upstream of Efg1.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Huafeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenji
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jiangye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D005812:Genes, Switch / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C121438:EFG1 protein, Candida albicans; C100940:FLO8 protein, S cerevisaie; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors