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The walls of both, yeast and mycelial cells of Candida albicans possess a species-specific antigen that is recognized by a monoclonal antibody (MAb 3H8). This antigen can be extracted in the form of a very high Mr complex, close or over 106 Da, by treatment, with β-1,3-glucanase, β mercaptoethanol or dithothreitol, or mild alkali, but not by saturated hydrogen fluoride (HF) in pyridine, suggesting that the complex is bound to wall β-1,3 glucans, and to proteins by disulfide bonds, but not to β-1,6 glucans. Through its sensitivity to trypsin and different deglycosylation procedures, it was concluded that the epitope is associated to a glycoprotein containing N-glycosidic, but not O-glycosidic mannan moieties. By means of electrophoresis in polycrylamide gradient gels, followed by mass spectrometric analysis, the epitope was pinpointed to a very high MW complex containing Agglutinin-Like Sequence (ALS) family proteins, and other cytoplasmic, membrane and secreted proteins. The components of this complex are bound by unknown covalent bonds. The material extracted with β mercaptoethanol or dilute alkali appeared under the electron microscope as large aggregates in the form of spheroidal and mostly web-like structures of large sizes. These, and additional data, suggest that this protein complex may constitute an important part of the basic glycoprotein structure of C. albicans. The possibility that similar complexes exist in the wall of other fungi is an attractive, although yet untested possibility.

This paper describes the results obtained by analysing the human pathogen Candida albicans cell wall subproteome by mass spectrometry, using extraction procedures aimed at releasing proteins bound by disulphide bridges (RAE-CWP) or alkali-labile ester linkages (ALS-CWP). Ten of the total proteins released from the wall by β-ME and/or NaOH contained a potential signal peptide, lacked a GPI cell wall hydrophobic C-terminal domain and were identified as true wall proteins by in silico analysis, whereas four additional proteins were identified as bound to the plasma membrane. The results surprisingly demonstrated that, in addition to the expected RAE-CWP and ALS-CWP proteins, 16 GPI proteins were bound to the wall by disulphide or alkali-sensitive bonds, since they were released by β-ME and/or NaOH. The biological significance of these results is discussed in relation to the added complexity of the organization of the proteins in the C. albicans cell wall.

Several virulence factors in Candida albicans strains such as production of hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation on surfaces and cells can contribute to their pathogenicity. For this, control of this opportunistic yeast is one of the factors reducing the nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to investigate biofilm formation on polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate and the production of hydrolytic enzymes in Candida albicans strains isolated from the oral cavity of patients suffering from denture stomatitis. All strains were identified by macroscopic, microscopic analysis and the ID 32 C system. Our results showed that 50% of the total strains produced phospholipase. Furthermore, protease activity was detected in seven (35%) strains. All Candida albicans strains were beta haemolytic. All C. albicans strains adhered to polystyrene 96-well microtiter plate at different degrees, and the metabolic activity of C. albicans biofilm formed on polymethylmethacrylate did not differ between tested strains. The atomic force micrographs demonstrated that biofilm of Candida albicans strains was organized in small colonies with budding cells.

Considering the importance of proteins in the structure and function of the cell wall of Candida albicans, we analyzed the cell wall subproteome of this important human pathogen by LC coupled to MS (LC-MS) using different protein extraction procedures. The analyzed samples included material extracted by hydrogen fluoride-pyridine (HF-pyridine), and whole SDS-extracted cell walls. The use of this latter innovative procedure gave similar data as compared to the analysis of HF-pyridine extracted proteins. A total of 21 cell wall proteins predicted to contain a signal peptide were identified, together with a high content of potentially glycosylated Ser/Thr residues, and the presence of a GPI motif in 19 of them. We also identified 66 "atypical" cell wall proteins that lack the above-mentioned characteristics. After tryptic removal of the most accessible proteins in the cell wall, several of the same expected GPI proteins and the most commonly found "atypical" wall proteins were identified. This result suggests that proteins are located not only at the cell wall surface, but are embedded within the cell wall itself. These results, which include new identified cell wall proteins, and comparison of proteins in blastospore and mycelial walls, will help to elucidate the C. albicans cell wall architecture.

Transcription profiling of Candida albicans cells responding to the elimination of the wall (protoplasts) and posterior regeneration was explored. DNA microarrays were used to measure changes in the expression of 6039 genes, and the upregulated genes during regeneration at 28 degrees C were assigned to fourteen categories. A total of 407 genes were upregulated during the process, of which 144 reached a maximum after 1 h. MKC1, a gene encoding a member of the regulatory pathway involved in cell wall integrity was overexpressed. Time-dependent expression divided the genes into 40 clusters. Clusters 1-19 were highly expressed initially (time 0) and downregulated following incubation, whereas transcription of the genes grouped into clusters 20-40 showed the opposite behaviour. These results suggest that the first clusters group genes permitting the cell adaptation to a sub-optimal environment due to removal of the wall, whereas the second group represents genes required for protoplasts regeneration after shifted to optimal conditions from 4 to 28 degrees C.

The effect of immobilization on the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells was investigated in comparison with freely suspended batch grown cells. The pattern of mannoproteins released from the cell wall after Zymolyase digestion showed the presence of new mannoprotein species when cell growth takes place in a state of immobilization. The same result was obtained by exposure of freely suspended cells to a stressful concentration of ethanol, showing that two different adverse culture conditions induce a similar molecular response at the cell wall level.

A total of 6047 open reading frames in theCandida albicansgenome were screened forZn(II)2C6-type zinc cluster proteins (or binuclear cluster proteins) involved in DNA recognition. These fungal proteins are transcription regulators of genes involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including metabolism of different compounds such as sugars or amino acids, as well as multi-drug resistance, control of meiosis, cell wall architecture, etc. The selection criteria used in the sequence analysis were the presence of theCysX2CysX6CysX5-16CysX2CysX6-8Cysmotif and a putative nuclear localization signal. Using this approach, 70 putativeZn(II)2C6transcription factors have been found in the genome ofC. albicans.

CandidaDB is accessible at http://genolist.pasteur.fr/CandidaDB.; International audience; CandidaDB is a database dedicated to the genome of the most prevalent systemic fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans. CandidaDB is based on an annotation of the Stanford Genome Technology Center C.albicans genome sequence data by the European Galar Fungail Consortium. CandidaDB Release 2.0 (June 2004) contains information pertaining to Assembly 19 of the genome of C.albicans strain SC5314. The current release contains 6244 annotated entries corresponding to 130 tRNA genes and 5917 protein-coding genes. For these, it provides tentative functional assignments along with numerous pre-run analyses that can assist the researcher in the evaluation of gene function for the purpose of specific or large-scale analysis. CandidaDB is based on GenoList, a generic relational data schema and a World Wide Web interface that has been adapted to the handling of eukaryotic genomes. The interface allows users to browse easily through genome data and retrieve information. CandidaDB also provides more elaborate tools, such as pattern searching, that are tightly connected to the overall browsing system. As the C.albicans genome is diploid and still incompletely assembled, CandidaDB provides tools to browse the genome by individual supercontigs and to examine information about allelic sequences obtained from complementary contigs. CandidaDB is accessible at http://genolist.pasteur.fr/CandidaDB.

After screening a Candida albicans genome database the product of an open reading frame (ORF) (CA2880) with 49% homology to the product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YPL133c, a putative transcriptional factor, was identified. The disruption of the C. albicans gene leads to a major sensitivity to calcofluor white and Congo red, a minor sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate, a major resistance to zymolyase, and an alteration of the chemical composition of the cell wall. For these reasons we called it CaCWT1 (for C. albicans cell wall transcription factor). CaCwt1p contains a putative Zn(II) Cys(6) DNA binding domain characteristic of some transcriptional factors and a PAS domain. The CaCWT1 gene is more expressed in stationary phase cells than in cells growing exponentially. To our knowledge, this is the first Zn(II) Cys(6) transcriptional factor-encoding gene implicated in the cell wall architecture.

After screening of aCandida albicansgenome database, the product of an ORF (IPF 3054) that has 62 % homology withSaccharomyces cerevisiaeSsr1p, an internal cell-wall protein, was identified and named CaSsr1p. The deduced amino acid sequence shows that CaSsr1p contains an N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, is rich in Ser and Thr amino acids and has a potential glycosylphosphatidylinositol-attachment signal. CaSsr1p is released following degradation of isolated cell walls by zymolyase (mainly a 1,3-β-glucanase) and therefore seems to be covalently linked to theβ-glucan of the cell walls. Both disruption and overexpression of theCaSSR1gene caused an increased sensitivity to calcofluor white, Congo red and zymolyase digestion. These results suggest that CaSsr1p has a structural role associated with the cell-wallβ-glucan.

Identification of PIR/CIS3 gene was carried out by amino-terminal sequencing of a protein band released by β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) from S. cerevisiae mnn9 cell walls. The protein was released also by digestion with β-1,3-glucanases (laminarinase or zymolyase) or by mild alkaline solutions. Deletion of the two carboxyterminal Cys residues (Cys214-12aa-Cys227-COOH), reduced but did not eliminate incorporation of Pir4 (protein with internal repeats) by disulphide bridges. Similarly, site-directed mutation of two other cysteine amino acids (Cys130Ser or Cys197Ser) failed to block incorporation of Pir4; the second mutation produced the appearance of Kex2-unprocessed Pir4. Therefore, it seems that deletion or mutation of individual cysteine molecules does not seem enough to inhibit incorporation of Pir4 by disulphide bridges. In fks1Δ and gsc2/fks2Δ cells, defective in β-1,3-glucan synthesis, modification of the protein pattern found in the supernatant of the growth medium, as well as the material released by β-ME or laminarinase, was evident. However, incorporation of Pir4 by both disulphide bridges and to the β-1,3-glucan of the cell wall continued. Deletion of the repetitive sequence (QIGDGQVQA) resulted in the secretion and incorporation by disulphide bridges of Pir4 in reduced amounts together with substantial quantities of the Kex2-unprocessed Pir4 form. Pir4 failed to be incorporated in alkali-sensitive linkages involving β-1,3-glucan when the first repetitive sequence was deleted. Therefore, this suggests that this sequence is needed in binding Pir4 to the β-1,3-glucan. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A collection of transposon-mutagenized strains of Yarrowia lipolytica was screened for wall defects by determination of their sensitivity to calcofluor white. A number of strains were hypersensitive, whereas others were resistant. Different non-allelic mutants displayed increased sensitivity to autolysis and lytic enzymes, independently of whether they were sensitive or resistant to calcofluor white. A thorough analysis of their cell walls revealed minor quantitative alterations, and no significant changes in chitin content. Electrophoretic analysis of wall-bound and excreted proteins proved to be a sensitive method that revealed defects in the cell wall structure of the mutants. Important alterations in the patterns of the wall proteins extracted by SDS or by enzymatic treatments were noticed for the mutants, as compared to the parental strain. Mutants released to the growth medium a larger number of protein species than the parental strain, suggesting impairment in wall assembly of certain polypeptides. Patterns of wall-bound and excreted proteins, as well as alterations in wall chemical composition were not diagnostic of calcofluor white sensitivity or resistance, but were specific for each mutant. Our data show that an increase in either sensitivity or resistance of Y. lipolytica to certain levels of calcofluor is equally indicative of alterations in cell wall structure, independent of chitin levels.

Yarrowia lipolytica is an ascomycete with biotechnological potential. In common media, the fungus grows as a mixture of yeast-like and short mycelial cells. The environmental factors that affect dimorphism in the wild-type strain, W29, and its auxotrophic derivative, PO1a, were analyzed. In both strains, pH was the most important factor regulating the dimorphic transition. Mycelium formation was maximal at pH near neutrality and decreased as pH was lowered to become almost null at pH 3. Carbon and nitrogen sources, namely glucose and ammonium, were also important for mycelium formation; and their effect was antagonized by some alternative carbon and nitrogen sources. Citrate was an important positive effector of mycelium growth. Anaerobic stress induced formation of mycelial cells. The importance of the protein kinase A pathway was suggested by the inhibition of mycelium growth by cAMP. We propose that the interplay of these factors regulates the adaptation of the fungus, to better exploit its natural ecological niches.

Several cDNA fragments corresponding to transcripts differentially expressed under conditions that favor mycelial growth of Candida albicans were identified by the “differential display” technique. One of these was cloned and used as a probe to rescue the full gene from a genomic library of the fungus. The sequence identified a single, uninterrupted open reading frame of 1395 nucleotides encoding a putative protein of 465 residues and a theoretical molecular weight of 50.3 kDa, present in the genome as a single copy located at chromosome 2 in different strains. The gene product showed high homology with subtilisin-like proteases, mainly PRB1, the vacuolar B protease from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and for this reason it was designated as a putative CaPRB1. Expression of the gene was not directly related to fungal morphogenesis, but to the initial response to inducers: Heat shock and the presence of N-acetyl glucosamine. It was also subject to nitrogen, but not to carbon catabolite repression, although glucose inhibited the GlcNAc stimulatory effect. The gene was, in our hands, unable to complement PRB1 mutation in S. cerevisiae. C. albicans prb null mutants did not show any distinct alteration in the phenotype. CaPRB1 is the first gene coding for a putative vacuolar serine protease cloned from C. albicans.

The synthesis of β-1,3-glucan, the structural component of the yeast cell wall which gives shape to the cell, occurs at the plasma membrane and is the result of the activity of at least a two-component complex. Fks1p is the catalytic subunit directly responsible for the synthesis of β-1,3-glucan, whilst the second subunit, Rho1p, has a GTP-dependent regulatory role. FKS1 has been characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where its function is at least partially redundant with that of FKS2/GSC2. FKS homologues have also been identified in several other fungal species, including Candida albicans, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Aspergillus nidulans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis. In this work, we have used degenerate oligonucleotides derived from the conserved regions of Fks1ps to isolate the possible FKS homologue genes of the strictly aerobic non-conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Using this approach, we have isolated a single FKS homologue which we have named YlFKS1; this codes a 1961 amino acid protein that shows a high degree of homology with other Fksps. Expression analysis of YlFKS1 under different conditions affecting the cell wall did not reveal significant differences. Finally, attempts to obtain a Y. lipolytica strain containing a disrupted YlFKS1 allele failed, despite having used two different techniques. Taken together, these results suggest that, unlike S. cerevisiae, YlFKS1 is the only FKS1 homologue in Y. lipolytica and is essential for growth. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Phenotypic analysis was performed on six mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deleted in one of the following open reading frames (ORFs), located on chromosome II: YBR254c, YBR255w, YBR257w, YBR258c, YBR259w and YBR266c. Disruption of the ORFs was carried out in the diploid strain FY1679 using the kanMX4 marker flanked by short sequences homologous to the target locus. Tetrad analysis following sporulation of the heterozygous disruptants showed that YBR254c and YBR257w are essential genes. YBR257w was later characterized and renamed POP4, its gene product being involved in 5.8S rRNA and tRNA processing (Chu et al., 1997). The tetrad analysis performed for the heterozygous disruptant for YBR266c showed that two of the four viable spores gave colonies of smaller size, reflecting a slower growth rate. Growth analysis of the disruptant haploids confirmed this defect at 30 degrees C and also at 15 degrees C. However, complementation tests failed to confirm that the deletion of YBR266c is responsible for this growth defect. Growth analysis of the disruptant haploid ybr255w(delta) showed a slower growth rate on YPD and minimal medium at 15 degrees C. Finally, no phenotypic effect could be detected associated to the disruption of ORFs YBR258c and YBR259w.

Linkages of Ywp1 to other components of the Yarrowia lipolytica mycelial cell wall were studied by extraction with beta-mercaptoethanol and zymolyase (a beta-glucanase complex) and by the use of rabbit polyclonal antibody preparation raised against Ywp1. Ywp1 complexed with an N-glycosylated cell wall protein(s) to form supramolecular complexes through disulphide bridges (extractable with beta-mercaptoethanol) or bonded to beta-1,3-glucan (extractable with zymolyase). The lack of a specific morphological phenotype when YWP1 was knocked out by gene disruption might indicate that other proteins present in the cell wall of Y. lipolytica compensated for its loss. In this mutant, the electrophoretic pattern of proteins, detected with polyclonal antibodies against the entire cell wall, was different from that obtained with the parental strain, but sensitivity to calcofluor white, zymolyase and chitinase did not change. Quantitative analysis of fluorescence emitted by cells in the presence of fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin (FITC-WGA) indicated that chitin was organized in the cell wall of the mutant cells in a form different from that in the parental strain.

Urea or hot sodium dodecyl sulphate extracted a significant amount of the same proteins from the matrix of the cell wall of the yeast form and mycelial cells of Candida albicans. Gel filtration analysis of the urea-extracted proteins revealed that they occurred in the form of large complexes which were unaffected by up to 8 M urea. Among them, proteins en route to becoming covalently associated within the wall scaffold were identified by their reaction with specific antibodies. When urea was removed by dialysis, some of these proteins specifically reassociated into large aggregates which bound strongly with ConA, whereas others remained soluble in smaller associated products. The ability of some of these proteins to bind to the insoluble wall polysaccharides was also assessed. No self-assembling proteins were able to bind to glucans and/or chitin. Specificity of the binding to polysaccharides made of beta-bound glucosyl or N-acetylglucosaminyl residues was determined by the competitive effect of several disaccharides. Whereas laminaribiose and diacetylchitobiose were strong inhibitors of protein binding to both glucan and chitin, lactose, maltose and sucrose were ineffective.

A Candida albicans expression library was constructed from RNA isolated from regenerating protoplasts. A 1.4-kb cDNA clone was used to isolate a genomic fragment. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 593 amino acids with an overall identity of 63.6% with the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase beta subunit (FRS1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We named it CaFRS1. It is located in a single copy in chromosome R, SfiI fragment M. Its expression showed a decrease during the cell wall regeneration process in protoplasts of both yeast and mycelial cells of C. albicans, suggesting its requirement thereof in initial steps of the cell wall synthesis.

Summary. We compared two phenotypic methods, colony morphotyping on Sabouraud-tripheniltetrazolium agar (STTZ) and serotyping, with two genotypic methods, karyotyping and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA bands obtained by PCR amplification (RAPD-PCR), for strain delineation in 33 Candida clinical isolates and two C. albicans strains from culture collections. Analysis of isolates on STTZ showed 11 different morphotypes. In two patients there was a switch in the morphotype coincidential with a change in the susceptibility of the isolates to azole antifungals. C. albicans isolates were divided into two serotypes. Sixteen and 18 different patterns were identified among the Candida isolates by karyotyping and RAPD-PCR, respectively. No relationship was found between any of the typing methods used and the source of the isolates. The combination of karyotyping and morphotyping on STTZ yielded useful epidemiological information, since it allowed the differentiation among the Candida species studied and the discrimination of clusters within C. albicans as well as to check the capacity of a strain to generate variants with different susceptibility to some antifungals. Zusammenfassung. Wir haben zur Stammdifferenzierung bei 33 klinischen Candida-Isolaten zwei phanotypische Methoden — Kolonie-Morphotypisierung auf Sabouraud-Triphenyltetrazolium-Agar (STTZ) und Serotypisierung — mit zwei genotypischen Methoden — Karyotypisierung und ‘random amplified polymorphic’ DNA, welche mittels der Polymerase-Kettenreaktion erhalten wurden (RAPD-PCR) — verglichen. Die Analyse der Isolate auf STTZ ergab 11 verschiedene Morphotypen. Bei zwei Patienten fand ein Switch des Morphotyps im Zusammenhang mit einem Wechsel der Sensibilitat gegenuber Antimyzetika der Azolgruppe statt. C. albicans-Isolate wurden in zwei verschiedene Serotypen unterteilt. Sechzehn und 18 verschiedene Muster wurden bei C. albicans jeweils mittels Karyotypisierung und RAPD-PCR identifiziert. Es konnte kein Zusammenhang zwischen irgendeiner der angewandten Typisierungsmethoden und dem Ursprung der Isolate ermittelt werden. Die Kombination von Karyotypisierung und Morphotypisierung auf STTZ ergab brauchbare epidemiologische Information, da sie erlaubte, die untersuchten Candida-Arten zu differenzieren, Unterarten von C. albicans zu identifizieren sowie die Fahigkeit eines Stammes zu prufen, Varianten zu entwickeln, welche gegenuber Antimyzetika verschiedene Sensibilitat aufweisen.

We have isolated a 4·0-kb fragment from a genomic library of Candida albicans which contained two open reading frames (ORFs). One of them is homologous to a prolyl-tRNA synthetase that catalyses the charging of a specific tRNA by proline (CaPRS). A deduced sequence of 575 amino acids representing a polypeptide of 66·2 kDa was determined. A FASTA search indicated that the CaPRSp had an overall similarity of 54·4% with the product of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae ORF (YER087) and 43·8% with the prolyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli (COLIPRO). Consensus Class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase sequences were identified by the PROSITE program. CaPRS was localized to chromosome R of the C. albicans genome and CaPRS DNA hybridized to a major RNA transcript of 1·7 kb under all conditions tested. The CaPRS sequence submitted to the EMBL data library is available under Accession Number U86341.© 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The YWP1 gene encoding a specific mycelial cell wall protein of Yarrowia lipolytica has been cloned and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using different episomal plasmids. Because the plasmids pYAE35BB and pYAE35ES carrying the YWP1 gene (including the 5′ noncoding promoter sequences) failed to express it, the YWP1 gene was cloned under the control of GAL/CYC or ACT S. cerevisiae promoters. A main band with an apparent molecular mass of 70 kDa was detected by immunoblotting in the cell wall fraction of transformants. Ywp1 processing and incorporation to the cell wall were similar in both Y. lipolytica and S. cerevisiae but not in its final localization in the cell wall. In Y. lipolytica Ywp1 is covalently bound to the cell wall (it is released only by Zymolyase digestion), whereas in S. cerevisiae it was not (it was released by boiling SDS solutions). These results suggest that the sequences involved in recognition, anchoring of a protein to the cell wall, or the catalytic activities implicated are different, at least for Ywp1, in Y. lipolytica and S. cerevisiae. Another possibility is that the target for attachment of Ywp1 is missing or cryptic in the cell wall of S. cerevisiae.

Summary Cell wall regeneration of individual Candida albicans yeast and mycelial protoplasts was studied with confocal and electron microscopy using polyclonal antibodies and leetins. Quantitative measurements of the fluorescence emitted by individual protoplasts during the process of regeneration indicate that chitin is the first polymer to be laid down, whereas β(1,3)- and β(1,6)glucan are incorporated at a later stage. Mannoproteins were found on the surface of fresh protoplasts and those newly synthesized were then deposited with time. During the first steps of wall regeneration, the proteins that interacted covalently with chitin or glucan were different, but the same species were found linked to each polymer in yeast and mycelial regenerating forms. The aggregates formed by regenerating protoplasts were shown to be due to the chitin and mannoprotein network initially laid.

Screening cDNA libraries with polyclonal antibody preparations against Candida albicans yeast or mycelial cell walls resulted in isolation of several positive clones. Some of them encoded enolase; others encoded a protein of the 70 kDa heat-shock protein family (Hsp70p), etc. The presence of these cytosolic proteins in the cell wall of actively growing C. albicans was discovered by analytical (SDS-PAGE and Western blot) and cytological (indirect immunofluorescence) experiments. Supplementation of cell cultures with papulacandin B, an antibiotic that inhibits formation of the -glucan skeleton, resulted in the release of enolase to the supernatant fluids; this release was prevented when 0.6 M KCI was present as an osmotic stabilizer. The cell wall of C. albicans incorporated exogenously added proteins (enolase and Escherichia coli and C albicans cytosolic proteins). The presence in the C. albicans cell wall of enolase, Hsp70p, and probably other intracellular proteins that are highly immunogenic might help the fungal cells to evade the host defences, and consequently could represent a survival mechanism for C. albicans in vivo.

This paper describes the results obtained by analysing the human pathogen Candida albicans cell wall subproteome by mass spectrometry, using extraction procedures aimed at releasing proteins bound by disulphide bridges (RAE-CWP) or alkali-labile ester linkages (ALS-CWP). Ten of the total proteins released from the wall by β-ME and/or NaOH contained a potential signal peptide, lacked a GPI cell wall hydrophobic C-terminal domain and were identified as true wall proteins by in silico analysis, whereas four additional proteins were identified as bound to the plasma membrane. The results surprisingly demonstrated that, in addition to the expected RAE-CWP and ALS-CWP proteins, 16 GPI proteins were bound to the wall by disulphide or alkali-sensitive bonds, since they were released by β-ME and/or NaOH. The biological significance of these results is discussed in relation to the added complexity of the organization of the proteins in the C. albicans cell wall.

Candida albicans cell wall components were analyzed by ethylenediamine (EDA) treatment. Based on their different solubility properties, the cell wall components produced three fractions (A, B, and C). Fractions B (EDA-soluble, water-insoluble) and C (EDA-insoluble) contained glucan, chitin, and protein in different proportions. After zymolyase (mainly a beta-glucanase complex) or chitinase treatment of fractions B and C, more polysaccharides and proteins were solubilized by a second EDA treatment, suggesting that the solubility of the polymers in EDA depends on the degree of polymer interactions. Western blot analysis using two monoclonal antibodies (1B12 and 4C12) revealed electrophoretic patterns that were similar in mycelial and yeast morphologies, except that in material obtained from mycelial walls, an additional band was detected with MAb 1B12. Fluorescence microscopy of cell wall fractions treated with FITC-labeled Con-A, Calcofluor white, and FITC-labeled agglutinin showed that glucan and mannoproteins are uniformly distributed in fractions B and C, while chitin is restricted to distinct patches. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that fraction C maintained the original shape of the cells, with an irregular thickness generally wider than the walls. When fraction C was treated with chitinase, the morphology was still present and was maintained by an external glucan layer, with an internal expanded fibrillar material covering the entire cellular lumen. Degradation of the glucan skeleton of fraction C with zymolyase resulted in the loss of the morphology.

Following synthesis of its individual components, the cell wall of Candida albicans is assembled extracellularly in two steps. First, a viscoelastic composite is formed by noncovalent interactions between mannoproteins and other wall components. Second, the initial network is consolidated by formation of covalent cross-linkages among the wall polymers. In both processes, specific proteins may regulate the final yeast or mycelial morphology. These proteins might carry out part of what could be called a morphogenetic code. Experimental results have shown that some mannoproteins form supramolecular complexes. They are secreted independently, but released together from cell walls by hydrolases. In C. albicans cell walls a transglutaminase activity has been detected that could be responsible for the formation of covalent bonds between structural proteins. Key words: fungal cell wall, construction, morphogenesis, protein interactions, noncovalent linkages, covalent linkages.

The use of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) that reacts with (1,6)-beta-glucan has permitted the study of the different covalent linkages between glucan and mannoproteins in the cell wall of Candida albicans. The mAb JRR1 was originally raised by immunization with Zymolyase extracts from C. albicans cell walls, but it soon became apparent that it reacted with a (1,6)-beta-glucan epitope. By using this antibody, we show the existence of glucan-mannoprotein complexes between the (1,6)-beta-glucan epitope recognized by the antibody and cell wall mannoproteins. The topology of the (1,6)-beta-glucan in the cell wall of C. albicans has also been studied.

Immunoscreening of a mycelial expression library with polyclonal antibodies raised against mycelial cell wall resulted in the detection of a cDNA encoding a heat shock protein of Candida albicans. Sequence analysis of a 0.8-kb cDNA subclone, 2M-1, revealed an open reading frame encoding 244 amino acids. Southern blot analysis with this fragment as a probe demonstrated hybridization to C. albicans DNA. Northern analysis showed a substantial increase in 2M RNA expression levels after cells were subjected to heat shock. Western blot analysis with 2M monospecific antibodies recognized a 70-kDa protein which was present in membrane particles and cytosolic fractions.

Candida albicans Gca1p is a putative glucoamylase enzyme which contains 946 amino acids, 11 putative sites for N -glycosylation and 9 for O -glycosylation. Gca1p was identified in β-mercaptoethanol extracts from isolated cell walls of strain C. albicans SC5314 and it is involved in carbohydrate metabolism. The significance and the role of this protein within the cell wall structure were studied in the corresponding mutants. The homozygous mutant showed that GCA1 was not an essential gene for cell viability. Subsequent phenotypic analysis performed in the mutants obtained did not show significant difference in the behavior of mutant when compared with the wild strain SC5314. Zymoliase, Calcofluor White, Congo red, SDS, caffeine or inorganic compounds did not affect the integrity of the cell wall. No differences were observed when hyphal formation assays were carried out. However, an enzyme assay in the presence of substrate p -nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside enabled us to detect a significant decrease in glycosidase activity in the mutants compared with the parental strain, revealing the function of Gca1.

Two cDNA libraries were constructed from mRNAs obtained from yeast cells and germ-tubes of Candida albicans in lambda gt11. Immunoscreening with polyclonal antibodies raised against cell wall components allowed the detection of 29 positive clones. Two of these clones were selected for their specific reactivity with antisera either from yeast (clone 11Y) or germ-tubes (clone 24M). cDNA fragments were isolated by the digestion of lambda DNA with EcoRI. Southern blot analysis with these fragments as probes demonstrated homology with C. albicans DNA, and by Northern analysis two mRNAs transcripts were detected with sizes of approximately 1·5 kb for 11Y and 1·1 kb for 24M. Both transcripts were present in yeast cells as well as in germ-tubes. The whole genes were isolated from a C. albicans genomic library in the YRp7 vector by hybridization with the cDNA probes. Monospecific antibodies were purified from polyclonal antisera by affinity for the fusion proteins. Western blot analysis with 11Y-specific antibodie...

Electrophoretic mobility of secreted invertase (E.C. 3.2.1.26) from gelatin-immobilized yeast cells was analysed and compared with that of secreted invertase from freely suspended batch-grown cells. Invertase from immobilized cells showed a tower mobility after 24 h of incubation, in medium containing either glucose or raffinose as carbon source. Changes in invertase mobility were also followed in a time course both for immobilized and for freely suspended batch-grown cells. Mobility of invertase from free cells increased after approximately 15 h of incubation, independently of the carbon source, whilst that of invertase from immobilized cells remained constant. The differences observed were attributed to a different level of glycosylation of the protein moiety in free and immobilized cells. The amount of mannoproteins in the cell walls of immobilized cells was also investigated by ConA-ferritin labelling and quantification of ferritin particle density in ultrathin sections; the results of this experiment showed a higher content of mannoproteins in the walls of immobilized cells when compared with free cells. As a whole, these results are indicative of physiological changes that can be ascribed to the peculiar microenvironment of gel-immobilized cells.

Mild alkaline solutions (β-elimination), after removing the non-covalently bonded wall materials by hot SDS, released 13% and 26% of remaining wall proteins from mycelial and yeast cells of Candida albicans, respectively. When the β-elimination was carried out after digestion of the walls with chitinase, four-fold more proteinaceous materials were released from mycelium and a similar amount in yeast walls. The solubilized materials were shown to be highly polydisperse, and endo-glycosidase H reduced their polydispersity and molecular masses, revealing different electrophoretic patterns in yeast and mycelial cell walls. The solubilized mycelial proteins carried N-glycosidic sugar chains and the epitopes recognized by two monoclonal antibodies were preserved, although showing a different behaviour in yeast walls. These results are consistent with the idea that significant amounts of intrinsic O-glycosylated mannoproteins are interconnected in the walls of C. albicans.

Iranzo, M., Marcilla, A., Elorza, M. V., Mormeneo, S., and Sentandreu, R. 1994. Preparation of anti-protein and anti-mannan antisera against fungal cell wall by affinity chromatography. Experimental Mycology 18, 159-167. A novel and easy chromatographic method has been developed for the isolation of anti-protein and anti-mannan antisera from a population of polyclonal antibodies obtained against Candida albicans and Yarrowia lipolytica cell wall mannoproteins. The technique is based on the immobilization of mannan (to be used as immunoadsorbent) by Affi-Prep H z resin after the oxidation of neighboring hydroxyl groups of the polysaccharide with sodium periodate. For Y. lipolytica polyclonal antiserum, a single chromatographic step using the homologous mannan was sufficient to obtain an antiprotein antibody preparation free of antimannan antibodies. For C. albicans , three chromatographic processes using homologous and heterologous mannan were needed to obtain a satisfactory antiprotein antiserum. The potential application of the anti-protein antiserum obtained has been demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence assays of whole cells and electrophoretic analysis of wall proteins in C. albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae .

The kinectics of incorporation of two precursor mannoproteins into the regenerating cell wall of Candida albicans protoplasts have been followed at 28°C and 37°C using two monoclonal antibodies specific for protein epitopes (MAb 1B12 and 4C12) as probes. Both molecules were secreted from the beginning of the regeneration process, and their incorporation was retarded significantly. Analysis of the secreted materials by Western immunoblotting with MAb 1B12 allowed the identification of two closely migrating bands at apparent Mr higher than 170 kDa and significant amounts of a highly polydisperse material of even greater molecular mass. Some of these mannoproteinaceous species carried both N- and O-glycosidically linked mannose residues, as deduced from their drop in apparent Mr when synthesized in the presence of tunicamycin and by their reactivity with Concanavalin A. Following secretion, the molecules reacting with MAb 1B12 were incorporated into the regenerating walls by covalent binding. Then, when the regenerating walls by covalent binding. Then, when the antigen molecules were solubilized from partially regenerated walls, their mobility differed when regeneration took place at 28°C (blastoconidia) or 37°C (mycelial cells).

The fungal cell wall is an essential organelle required for maintaining cell integrity and also plays an important role in the primary interactions between pathogenic fungi and their hosts. PGA13 encodes a GPI protein in the human pathogen Candida albicans, which is highly up-regulated during cell wall regeneration in protoplasts. The Pga13 protein contains a unique tandem repeat, which is present five times and is characterized by conserved spacing between the four cysteine residues. Furthermore, the mature protein contains 38% serine and threonine residues, and therefore probably is a highly glycosylated cell wall protein. Consistent with this, a chimeric Pga13-V5 protein could be localized to the cell wall, but only after deglycosylation was performed. Disruption of PGA13 led to increased sensitivity to Congo red, Calcofluor white, and zymolyase, and to a diminished ability of protoplasts to recover their cell wall. In addition, pga13Δ mutants exhibited delayed filamentation, a higher surface hydrophobicity, and increased adherence and flocculation (cell-cell interactions). Furthermore, transcript profiling showed that expression of four members of the ALS family (adhesin-encoding genes) is up-regulated in the pga13Δ null mutant. Altogether, these results indicate that Pga13 is a wall-localized protein that contributes to cell wall synthesis and is important for acquiring normal surface properties. The contribution of Pga13 to surface hydrophilicity may be important for cell dispersal during development of invasive infections, and possibly for morphological development. This is consistent with the observed reduced virulence of pga13Δ mutants in a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis.

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn mutants has facilitated the study of the epitopes recognized by antisera against several antigenic factors of the genus Candida (Candida Check; Iatron Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan). We have taken advantage of the very well characterized structure of the mannans of the different mnn mutants to compare their reactivities with the factor antisera used in the identification of different species of the genus Candida. The results of this study provide evidence that one of the antigenic determinants recognized by factor 1 antisera is the O-linked mannose chains of the cell wall mannoproteins, while that recognized by factor 9 antiserum is the alpha 1-6-linked mannose backbone of the outer chain of the N-linked oligosaccharide.

Aculeacin A and papulacandin B block cell wall regeneration in Candida albicans protoplasts at an intermediate step in which the protoplasts have not yet synthesized the rigid structure of the cell wall and are therefore still osmotically sensitive. In the presence of the antibiotics, total synthesis of glucan is not significantly lowered with respect to control cells, although most of it appears either in the culture medium or in the regenerating wall as alkali-soluble glucan. Thus, it is proposed that echinocandins (such as aculeacin A) and papulacandins may not inhibit glucan synthesis per se but instead inhibit its incorporation into the supramolecular organization of the cell wall.

The effect of digitonin on chitin synthetase present in membrane (MMF) and cytoplasmic fractions (chitosomes) (CF) from C. albicans yeast protoplasts has been determined. The zymogen is preferentially, but not exclusively, solubilized by digitonin from MMF. Centrifugation of distinct solubilized preparations, containing either zymogen, in vivo active enzyme and/or trypsin activated enzyme, on linear sucrose gradients suggests that both zymogen and trypsin activated enzyme sediment slightly slower than the active enzyme, pointing out differences between the activation processes in vivo and in vitro or, alternatively, that both enzyme activities (active in vivo and zymogenic) correspond to different gene products. The detection of a zymogenic activity under certain conditions (0.5 mg ml-1 of digitonin and 64 micrograms ml-1 of trypsin) also suggests the existence of more than one pool of zymogenic enzyme in the MMF. Digitonin sensitizes the chitosomal (CF) proenzyme to trypsin: activation is enhanced by low digitonin concentrations in the presence of 8 micrograms ml-1 of protease, whereas activity strongly decreases in the presence of 64 micrograms ml-1 of trypsin. Digitonin does not produce zymogen activation per se in absence of exogenous protease. Furthermore, chitosome structure is modified into particles with low buoyant densities.

Determination of Candida species represents an important problem derived from the clinical implications of the species belonging to this genus. DNA probes have already been used for the epidemiology of Candida albicans, as well as for taxonomic analysis of Candida and other genera, although these probes are based on non-species-specific DNA sequences. In this work we carried out a 48-h assay, allowing the identification of C. albicans from clinical isolates, using DNA probes based on C. albicans LEU2 and URA3 genes. Another probe related to C. albicans SEC18 gene was shown not to be C. albicans specific.

Development of new effective antifungal drugs is limited by the absence of specific target sites in the fungal cells. Knowledge of the fungal cell wall structure and biosynthesis is of interest in searching for a potential target site for new chemotherapeutic agents. Our group has demonstrated that the fungal cell wall is a metabolically active structure where interaction between distinct components occurs to give rise to the mature cell wall structure. Mannoproteins play an essential role in the cell wall organization, and there is evidence for the formation of covalent bonds between these molecules and the structural polymers (glucans and chitin) outside the plasma membrane. Such interactions, which specifically occur at the fungal cell wall, are of great interest in defining target sites for potential new chemotherapeutic agents, which may inhibit the interactions and, thus, lead to a defective cell wall formation and cell death.

Invertase (INV) is encoded in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a family of genes, comprising SUC1-SUC5 and SUC7. Production of INV is highly variable, dependent on the strain and SUC gene present in the cell. The differences in INV production derive from the structure of the genes or are dependent on the genetic background of the strain. Centromeric plasmids (based on YCp50) carrying one of the SUC genes (except SUC7) were introduced into a strain (SEY2101) lacking SUC genes. The INV produced by the transformants was dependent on the individual SUC genes, and correlated with INV mRNA levels. Plasmids in which SUC2 had been placed under control of promoters from the other SUC genes, were used to transform SEY2101 cells. The amounts of INV produced by cells carrying hybrid SUC genes were in agreement with the levels expected if the promoter controlled the expression of the SUC2 structural region. It is suggested that the differences in expression are a function of the transcription efficiency of the different SUC gene promoters, based on the divergence of 5' sequences.

The Cwt1 transcription factor is involved in cell wall architecture of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. We demonstrate here that deficiency of Cwt1 leads to decreased β1,6-glucan in the cell wall, while mannoproteins are increased in the cell wall of exponentially growing cells and are released into the medium of stationary phase cells. Hyphal morphogenesis of cwt1 mutants is reduced on the surfaces of some inducing media. Unexpectedly, the CWT1/cwt1 heterozygous strains shows some stronger in vitro phenotypes compared to the homozygous mutant. The heterozygous but not the homozygous strain is also strongly impaired for its virulence in a mouse model of systemic infection. We suggest that an intermediate dosage of Cwt1 affects phenotypes profoundly, while its complete absence may elicit compensatory responses of C. albicans. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of blastoconidia and blastoconidia bearing germ tubes of Candida albicans ATCC 26555 was monitored by assessing attachment of polystyrene microspheres to the cell surface, and we found that mature hyphae were significantly hydrophobic. Treatment of intact cells with low concentrations of beta-glucanase (Zymolyase 20T) or proteases abolished or significantly reduced attachment of latex beads to hyphae. This effect paralleled an obvious reduction in CSH of the entire cell population, as measured by an aqueous-hydrocarbon biphasic partitioning assay. Analysis of the cell wall material released by Zymolyase and adsorbed on polystyrene microspheres indicated that germ tube-specific cell wall proteins and mannoproteins with apparent molecular masses of 20 to 67 kDa may be responsible for the hydrophobicity of hyphae. Zymolyase released from blastoconidia cell walls a different set of proteins and mannoproteins that were able to adsorb to polystyrene microbeads. Such molecular species might in turn be responsible for the CSH exhibited by blastoconidium populations as determined by the biphasic partitioning assay, although these probably hydrophobic components can be masked on the surface of blastoconidia, as the latter had no or very few latex microspheres attached to their surfaces. Treatment of cells of both C. albicans morphologies with 2-mercaptoethanol released qualitatively distinct species of polystyrene-adsorbed proteins and mannoproteins from yeast and mycelial cells. These observations suggested that hydrophobic proteins and mannoproteins that could be associated with CSH are bound to the cell wall structure through diverse types of linkages.

The effect of a lipase activity (EC 3.1.1.3) on the chitin synthetase from Candida albicans has been studied, both on the active and the trypsin activated enzyme. Removal of fatty acids from acylglycerides by lipase has an inhibitory effect on the activity as well as on the ‘in vitro’ activation process by trypsin in the membrane-bound enzyme and in the chitosomes. This would indicate that an adequate lipid environment is required for both the activation process and proper function of the synthetase activity.

Chitin synthetase activity was detected in a partly zymogenic form in cell-free homogenates obtained from C. albicans yeast cells and protoplasts of the same type of cells. By isopycnic centrifugation on sucrose gradients of the cell-free homogenates two fractions with chitin synthetase activity were obtained: one was associated with the plasma membrane (labelled with [ 3 H]concanavalin A (con A) and buoyant density 1·195 g ml −1 ) in a partly active state, and the second was in the cytoplasm, where the enzyme was in a particulate fully zymogenic form, lacking affinity to con A. The buoyant density of the enzyme found in this location depended on the method of cell breakage. Lysis of partly regenerated protoplasts gave a value of 1·135 g ml −1 , while cells broken with glass beads gave a major peak of activity at a buoyant density of 1·085 g ml −1 and a second minor peak at the buoyant density obtained in protoplasts (1·135 g ml −1 ). Breakage with glass beads resulted in the release of chitin synthetase, mainly zymogenic, from the membrane fraction (MMF) (buoyant density 1·085 g ml −1 ) whereas the cytoplasmic enzyme activity decreased in parallel with an increase in the buoyant density (from 1·135 g ml −1 to 1·165 g ml −1 ). The extent of both events depended on the conditions of cell disruption. Finally a precursor/product relationship between the cytoplasmic and membrane-bound enzymes could not be demonstrated because neither the subcellular distribution nor the activation state of the enzyme was modified following inhibition of protein synthesis.

The polypeptide composition of cell walls from the wild-type strain of Neurospora crassa is compared with that of the proteinaceous extracellular coat (PEM) secreted by the slime strain of this fungus. Analyses included determination of the polypeptide pattern by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotting followed by staining with Concanavalin A and antibodies raised against the overall antigenic components present in either (whole cell walls or PEM) structure. A complex protein assortment was found associated to the walls of the wild type strain. The similarities observed between the polypeptide patterns of the cell walls and PEM, in addition to the immunological cross-reactivity exhibited by some proteinaceous species, suggest a close relationship between PEM and the proteins present in the wild-type cell walls.

Cloning and sequencing of RCS1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene whose product seems to be involved in timing the budding event of the cell cycle, is described. A haploid strain in which the 3'-terminal region of the chromosomal copy of the gene has been disrupted produces cells that are, on average, twice the size of cells of the parental strain. The critical size for budding in the mutant is similarly increased, and the disruption mutation is dominant in a diploid heterozygous for the RCS1 gene. Spores from this diploid have a reduced ability to germinate, the effect being more pronounced in the spores carrying the disrupted copy of RCS1. However, disrupted cells recover from alpha-factor treatment equally as well as wild-type cells.

Although the cell wall is very important in yeasts, relatively little is known about the relationship between its structure and function. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a family of 55 transcription factor proteins unique to fungi, so-called zinc cluster proteins, has been described. Of these, Rds2 has been identified as an activator/inhibitor of gluconeogenesis. However, previous studies have pointed out additional roles for this protein, specifically, in the modulation of cell-wall architecture and drug sensitivity. In this work, evidence regarding the role of Rds2 as a regulator of cell-wall architecture and composition is presented based on phenotypical analysis of the cell walls prepared from a S. cerevisiae Rds2 mutant strain. Analyses of the sensitivity of this rds2Delta mutant to different drugs and to osmotic stress showed that Rds2 is indeed involved in the drug-sensitivity response and plays a role in determining osmotic sensitivity.