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Complete glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors are required in Candida albicans for full morphogenesis, virulence and resistance to macrophages
Author(s) -
Richard Mathias,
IbataOmbetta Stella,
Dromer Françoise,
BordonPallier Florence,
Jouault Thierry,
Gaillardin Claude
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.02926.x
Subject(s) - biology , candida albicans , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , morphogenesis , cytokinesis , saccharomyces cerevisiae , corpus albicans , hypha , cell wall , septin , secretion , lytic cycle , yeast , cell , cell division , biochemistry , gene , genetics , virus
Summary Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored proteins are involved in cell wall integrity and cell–cell interactions. We disrupted the Candida albicans homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPI7/LAS21 gene, which encodes a GPI anchor‐modifying activity. In the mutant and on solid media, the yeast‐to‐hyphae transition was blocked, whereas chlamydospore formation was enhanced. However, the morphogenetic switch was normal in liquid medium. Abnormal budding patterns, cytokinesis and cell shape were observed in both liquid and solid media. The cell wall structure was also modified in the mutants, as shown by hypersensitivity to Calcofluor white. In vitro and in vivo assays revealed that the mutant interacted with its host in a modified way, resulting in reduced virulence in mice and reduced survival in the gastrointestinal environment of mice. The mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway of macrophages was downregulated by the wild‐type cells but not by the Δ Cagpi7 null strains. In agreement with this abnormal behaviour, mutant cells were more sensitive to the lytic action of macrophages. Our results indicate that a functional GPI anchor is required for full hyphal formation in C. albicans , and that perturbation of the GPI biosynthesis results in hypersensitivity to host defences.