title: Mitochondrial Complex V α Subunit Is Critical forCandida albicansPathogenicity through Modulating Multiple Virulence Properties.
abstract: The α subunit (ATP1) is a vital component of mitochondrial complex V which counts for the majority of cellular ATP production in a living organism. Nevertheless, how the α subunit influences other cellular processes such as pathogenicity inCandida albicansremains poorly understood. To address this question,ATP1mutant (atp1Δ/Δ) and the gene-reconstituted strain (atp1Δ/ATP1) have been constructed in this study and their pathogenicity-related traits are compared to those of wild type (WT). In a murine model of disseminated candidiasis,atp1Δ/Δ infected mice have a significantly higher survival rate and experience a lower fungal burden in tissues. Inin vitrostudiesatp1Δ/Δ lose a capability to damage or destroy macrophages and endothelial cells. Furthermore,atp1Δ/Δ is not able to grow under either glucose-denial conditions or high H2O2conditions, both of which are associated with the potency of the macrophages to killC. albicans. Defects in filamentation and biofilm formation may impair the ability ofatp1Δ/Δ to penetrate host cells and establish robust colonies in the host tissues. In concert with these pathogenic features, intracellular ATP levels ofatp1Δ/Δ can drop to 1/3 of WT level. These results indicate that the α subunit of Complex V play important roles inC. albicanspathogenicity.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shui-Xiu
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Tian
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Kun-Ju
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China; Institute of Mycology, Jinan UniversityGuangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: ATP1; Candida albicans; pathogenicity; virulence properties; α subunit