Target specificity of the Candida albicans Efg1 regulator

Theresia Lassak; Eva Schneider; Michael Bussmann; Dagmar Kurtz; J Robert Manak; Thyagarajan Srikantha; David R Soll; Joachim F Ernst

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07837.x

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Target specificity of the Candida albicans Efg1 regulator

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Target specificity of the Candida albicans Efg1 regulator

Theresia Lassak, Eva Schneider, Michael Bussmann, Dagmar Kurtz, J Robert Manak, Thyagarajan Srikantha, David R Soll and Joachim F Ernst

Molecular microbiology, Vol.82(3), pp.602-618

11/2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07837.x

PMID: 21923768

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Abstract

Efg1 is a central transcriptional regulator of morphogenesis and metabolism in Candida albicans. In vivo genome-wide ChIP chip and in vitro footprint analyses revealed the Efg1 recognition sequence (EGR-box) TATGCATA in the yeast growth form of this human fungal pathogen. Upstream regions of EFG1 and genes encoding transcriptional regulators of hyphal growth including TCC1, CZF1, TEC1, DEF1 and NRG1 contained EGR- and/or EGR-like boxes. Unexpectedly, after brief hyphal induction the genome-wide Efg1 binding pattern was completely altered and new binding sites of yet unknown specificity had appeared. Hyphal induction abolished Efg1 accumulation on EFG1 and TCC1 promoters and led to rapid decline of both transcripts, although the Efg1 protein persisted in cells. While EFG1 promoter activity in the yeast growth form did not depend on bound Efg1, its downregulation under hyphal induction depended on the presence of Efg1 and the protein kinase A isoform Tpk2. Deletion analyses of the EFG1 upstream region revealed that none of its resident EGR-boxes is uniquely responsible for EFG1 promoter downregulation. These results suggest different binding specificities of Efg1 in yeast growth and in hyphal induction and suggest a brief time window following hyphal induction, in which Efg1 exerts its repressive effect on target promoters.

Binding Sites

Candida albicans - genetics

Candida albicans - growth & development

Candida albicans - physiology

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation

DNA Footprinting

DNA, Fungal - metabolism

DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism

Fungal Proteins - metabolism

Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal

Hyphae - genetics

Hyphae - growth & development

Hyphae - physiology

Models, Biological

Promoter Regions, Genetic

Sequence Deletion

Transcription Factors - metabolism

Transcription, Genetic

Details

Title: Subtitle: Target specificity of the Candida albicans Efg1 regulator
Creators: Theresia Lassak - Department Biologie, Molekulare Mykologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Eva Schneider
Michael Bussmann
Dagmar Kurtz
J Robert Manak
Thyagarajan Srikantha
David R Soll
Joachim F Ernst
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Molecular microbiology, Vol.82(3), pp.602-618
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07837.x
PMID: 21923768
NLM abbreviation: Mol Microbiol
ISSN: 0950-382X
eISSN: 1365-2958
Language: English
Date published: 11/2011
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984217421702771

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