TY - JOUR
T1 - Opaque cells signal white cells to form biofilms in Candida albicans
AU - Daniels, Karla J.
AU - Srikantha, Thyagarajan
AU - Lockhart, Shawn R.
AU - Pujol, Claude
AU - Soll, David R.
PY - 2006/5/17
Y1 - 2006/5/17
N2 - Upon homozygosis from a/α to a/a or α/α, Candida albicans must still switch from the 'white' to 'opaque' phenotype to mate. It was, therefore, surprising to discover that pheromone selectively upregulated mating-associated genes in mating-incompetent white cells without causing G1 arrest or shmoo formation. White cells, like opaque cells, possess pheromone receptors, although their distribution and redistribution upon pheromone treatment differ between the two cell types. In speculating about the possible role of the white cell pheromone response, it is hypothesized that in overlapping white a/a and α/α populations in nature, rare opaque cells, through the release of pheromone, signal majority white cells of opposite mating type to form a biofilm that facilitates mating. In support of this hypothesis, it is demonstrated that pheromone induces cohesiveness between white cells, minority opaque cells increase two-fold the thickness of majority white cell biofilms, and majority white cell biofilms facilitate minority opaque cell chemotropism. These results reveal a novel form of communication between switch phenotypes, analogous to the inductive events during embryogenesis in higher eukaryotes.
AB - Upon homozygosis from a/α to a/a or α/α, Candida albicans must still switch from the 'white' to 'opaque' phenotype to mate. It was, therefore, surprising to discover that pheromone selectively upregulated mating-associated genes in mating-incompetent white cells without causing G1 arrest or shmoo formation. White cells, like opaque cells, possess pheromone receptors, although their distribution and redistribution upon pheromone treatment differ between the two cell types. In speculating about the possible role of the white cell pheromone response, it is hypothesized that in overlapping white a/a and α/α populations in nature, rare opaque cells, through the release of pheromone, signal majority white cells of opposite mating type to form a biofilm that facilitates mating. In support of this hypothesis, it is demonstrated that pheromone induces cohesiveness between white cells, minority opaque cells increase two-fold the thickness of majority white cell biofilms, and majority white cell biofilms facilitate minority opaque cell chemotropism. These results reveal a novel form of communication between switch phenotypes, analogous to the inductive events during embryogenesis in higher eukaryotes.
KW - C. albicans biofilms
KW - C. albicans switching
KW - White-opaque transition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646780600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601099
DO - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601099
M3 - Article
C2 - 16628217
AN - SCOPUS:33646780600
SN - 0261-4189
VL - 25
SP - 2240
EP - 2252
JO - EMBO Journal
JF - EMBO Journal
IS - 10
ER -