title: A novel role of the vacuolar calcium channel Yvc1 in stress response, morphogenesis and pathogenicity of Candida albicans.
abstract: C. albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen, causing both superficial and life-threatening systemic infections. Calcium signaling is an intriguing aspect in its physiology, attributing to the roles in stress response and morphogenesis. Until recently, little was known about the mechanisms by which the calcium signaling-associated elements affect its pathogenicity. In this study, we found that Yvc1, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, localized on the vacuolar membrane. The yvc1Δ/Δ mutant displayed decreased ability of stress response, morphogenesis and attenuated virulence. The Spitzenkörper required for polarized growth were not detected in the hyphal tip of this mutant, suggesting a key role of Yvc1 in hyphal polarized growth and re-orientation to host signals. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the putative vacuolar calcium channel Yvc1 plays an important role in C. albicans infection and survival in host tissues, which is associated with its pleiotropic effects in several fungal physiological processes, including stress response, morphogenesis, and polarized growth.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Qilin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiatong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Baopeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Guangqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China. Electronic address: nklimingchun@163.com.
authors.forename: Mingchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000201:enzymology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Biofilm; Calcium channel; Candida albicans; Infection; Morphogenesis; Pathogenicity; Stress response