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A multi‐protein complex controls cAMP signalling and filamentation in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans
Author(s) -
Hall Rebecca A.,
Mühlschlegel Fritz A.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06979.x
Subject(s) - biology , candida albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , fungal protein , second messenger system , corpus albicans , filamentation , pathogen , adenylyl cyclase , fungus , yeast , signal transduction , genetics , saccharomyces cerevisiae , botany , laser , physics , optics
Summary Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. The ability of the fungus to grow as both yeast and filamentous forms is essential for its pathogenicity. Morphogenesis of C. albicans is largely regulated through the secondary messenger cAMP, produced by the soluble adenylyl cyclase, Cyr1p. Recent evidence suggests that Cyr1p can be directly stimulated by environmental cues to increase cytoplasmic cAMP levels and thus promote hyphal development. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology , Zou et al. demonstrate that, in response to some environmental cues, Cyr1p functions as part of a tripartite complex additionally involving Cap1p and G‐actin. All three proteins in the complex are required to raise cytosolic cAMP levels after stimulation with serum and bacterial peptidoglycan. The formation of such a complex highlights the importance of precise regulation of Cyr1p activity in response to host environmental cues.