Role of SAP7-10 and Morphological Regulators (EFG1, CPH1) in Candida albicans' Hypha Formation and Adhesion to Colorectal Carcinoma Caco-2

Pol J Microbiol. 2015;64(3):203-10.

Abstract

Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) are considered as key virulence factors of Candida albicans. Hopefully our outlook will widen the knowledge of SAP7's role in C. albicans pathogenesis. The goal of our study was to investigate SAP7 expression during C. albicans adhesion to intestinal human cells. Another objective was to study the role of SAP8-10 and transcriptional regulators: EFG1 and CPH1, using the mutants: Δsap, Δefg1, Δcph1 during growth on Caco-2 monolayer. SAP7 expression was analyzed using real time RT-PCR; relative quantification was normalized against ACT1 in cells after growth on Caco-2. Adherence assay of C. albicans to Caco-2 was performed in a 24-well-plate. The results proved that SAP7 can play a role during the initial adaptation of C. albicans to intestinal tract and decreases over time. Up-regulation of SAP7 occured in the absence of SAP8 and SAP10 (genetic alternations dependence). SAP7 can be regulated by the morphogensis' regulators during C. albicans growth on epithelium. Adhesion of the mutants was indistinguishable from SC5314. The lack of neither SAP8-10 nor EFG1/CPH1 influences the adhesive behaviour of C. albicans. Deletion of SAP8-10 resulted in no filamentation defects. The results help better understand the role of SAP7 during adhesion and morphogenesis in C. albicans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Candida albicans / enzymology*
  • Candida albicans / genetics
  • Candida albicans / growth & development
  • Candida albicans / physiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Humans
  • Hyphae / enzymology
  • Hyphae / genetics
  • Hyphae / growth & development*
  • Hyphae / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • CPH1 protein, Candida albicans
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EFG1 protein, Candida albicans
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Sap8 protein, Candida albicans
  • Sap9 protein, Candida albicans