Self-Induction of a/a or α/α Biofilms in Candida albicans Is a Pheromone-Based Paracrine System Requiring Switching

Song Yi; Nidhi Sahni; Karla J Daniels; Kevin L Lu; Guanghua Huang; Thyagarajan Srikantha; David R Soll

doi:10.1128/EC.05055-11

Back

Self-Induction of a/a or α/α Biofilms in Candida albicans Is a Pheromone-Based Paracrine System Requiring Switching

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Self-Induction of a/a or α/α Biofilms in Candida albicans Is a Pheromone-Based Paracrine System Requiring Switching

Song Yi, Nidhi Sahni, Karla J Daniels, Kevin L Lu, Guanghua Huang, Thyagarajan Srikantha and David R Soll

Eukaryotic cell, Vol.10(6), pp.753-760

06/2011

DOI: 10.1128/EC.05055-11

PMCID: PMC3127667

PMID: 21498642

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1128/EC.05055-11View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Like MTL-heterozygous (a/α) cells, white MTL-homozygous (a/a or α/α) cells of Candida albicans, to which a minority of opaque cells of opposite mating type have been added, form thick, robust biofilms. The latter biofilms are uniquely stimulated by the pheromone released by opaque cells and are regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway. However, white MTL-homozygous cells, to which opaque cells of opposite mating type have not been added, form thinner biofilms. Mutant analyses reveal that these latter biofilms are self-induced. Self-induction of a/a biofilms requires expression of the α-receptor gene STE2 and the α-pheromone gene MFα, and self-induction of α/α biofilms requires expression of the a-receptor gene STE3 and the a-pheromone gene MFa. In both cases, deletion of WOR1, the master switch gene, blocks cells in the white phenotype and biofilm formation, indicating that self-induction depends upon low frequency switching from the white to opaque phenotype. These results suggest a self-induction scenario in which minority opaque a/a cells formed by switching secrete, in a mating-type-nonspecific fashion, α-pheromone, which stimulates biofilm formation through activation of the α-pheromone receptor of majority white a/a cells. A similar scenario is suggested for a white α/α cell population, in which minority opaque α/α cells secrete a-pheromone. This represents a paracrine system in which one cell type (opaque) signals a second highly related cell type (white) to undergo a complex response, in this case the formation of a unisexual white cell biofilm.

Phenotype

Biofilms

Receptors, Mating Factor - metabolism

Paracrine Communication

Fungal Proteins - genetics

Pheromones - metabolism

Gene Knockout Techniques

Candida albicans - genetics

beta-Glucans - metabolism

Candida albicans - physiology

Genes, Fungal

Transcription, Genetic

Genes, Mating Type, Fungal

Fungal Proteins - metabolism

Pheromones - genetics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Self-Induction of a/a or α/α Biofilms in Candida albicans Is a Pheromone-Based Paracrine System Requiring Switching
Creators: Song Yi - Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Nidhi Sahni
Karla J Daniels
Kevin L Lu
Guanghua Huang
Thyagarajan Srikantha
David R Soll
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Eukaryotic cell, Vol.10(6), pp.753-760
DOI: 10.1128/EC.05055-11
PMID: 21498642
PMCID: PMC3127667
NLM abbreviation: Eukaryot Cell
ISSN: 1535-9778
eISSN: 1535-9786
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology; United States
Language: English
Date published: 06/2011
Academic Unit: Biology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983991963602771

Metrics

19 Record Views

20 Times Cited - Web of Science