Inhibitory effect of cerulenin and sodium butyrate on germination of Candida albicans

Candida albicans germination in liquid medium was inhibition by the antilipogenic agent cerulenin and the fatty acid sodium butyrate. Although these inhibitors prevented germ tube emergence at concentrations of 1 microgram/ml and 20 mM, respectively, neither significantly affected cell viability as judged by trypan blue staining or the rate of protein biosynthesis throughout the time course of the experiments. Cerulenin treatment resulted in inhibition of lipid biosynthesis, but lipid biosynthetic capabilities remained unaltered in sodium butyrate-supplemented cultures. Because each inhibitor blocks germination by different mechanisms, their utility in distinguishing events directly correlated to germination was examined. In this context, chitin synthase activity was inhibited by both compounds, confirming the importance of chitin biosynthesis in C. albicans germination.