The role of Bgl2p in the transition to filamentous cells during biofilm formation by Candida albicans.
The fungal pathogen Candida albicans undergoes a transition from yeast cells to filamentous cells that is related to its pathogenicity. The complex multicellular processes involved in biofilm formation by this fungus also include this transition. In this work, we investigated the morphological role of the Bgl2 protein (Bgl2p) in the transition to filamentous cells during biofilm formation by C. albicans. Bgl2p has been identified as a β-1, 3-glucosyltransferase, and transcription of the CaBGL2 gene is upregulated during biofilm formation. We used scanning electron microscopy to observe the microstructure of a bgl2 null mutant during biofilm formation and found a delay in the transition to filamentous cells in the premature phase (24 hours) of biofilm formation. Deletion of the CaBGL2 gene led to a decrease in the expression of CPH2 and TEC1, which encode transcription factors required for the transition to the filamentous form. These findings indicate that Bgl2p plays a role in the transition to filamentous cells during biofilm formation by C. albicans.
School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Xinyue
X
Chen
School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Ruoyu
R
Zhang
Biomaterials Analysis Division, Technical Department, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Ayako
A
Takada
School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Shun
S
Iwatani
School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Chiemi
C
Oka
School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Toshitaka
T
Kitamoto
School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Susumu
S
Kajiwara
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002177:Candidiasis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D004693:Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D025301:Hyphae / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D004693:Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase; D014157:Transcription Factors; C435125:CPH2 protein, Candida albicans; C489432:TEC1 protein, Candida albicans

Candida albicans
; biofilm formation; filamentous transition; glucosyltransferase