3-phosphoglycerate kinase: a glycolytic enzyme protein present in the cell wall of Candida albicans

Identification of Candida albicans genes induced during thrush offers insight into pathogenesis

Candida albicans causes a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from mucocutaneous infections like oral thrush to disseminated candidiasis. Screening for C. albicans genes expressed within infected hosts might advance understanding of candidal pathogenesis, but is impractical using existing techniques. In this study, we used an antibody-based strategy to identify C. albicans genes expressed during thrush. We adsorbed sera from HIV-infected patients with thrush against candidal cells grown in vitro and screened a C. albicans genomic expression library. We identified 10 genes encoding immunogenic antigens and used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to verify that they were induced within thrush pseudomembranes recovered from a patient. The in vivo induced genes are involved in diverse functions, including regulation of yeast-hyphal morphogenesis, adhesion to host cells, nutrient uptake, phospholipid biosynthesis and amino acid catabolism. Four genes encode known virulence determinants (HWP1, CST20, CPP1 and RBF1). Another gene, LPD1, for which a role in candidal pathogenesis is unknown, encodes a protein homologous to a bacterial virulence determinant. Most importantly, disruption of CaNOT5, a newly identified gene, conferred defects in morphogenesis, decreased adherence to human buccal epithelial cells and attenuated mortality during murine disseminated candidiasis, proving that our strategy can identify genes encoding novel virulence determinants.

Candida albicans binds human plasminogen: identification of eight plasminogen-binding proteins

Several microbial pathogens augment their invasive potential by binding and activating human plasminogen to generate the proteolytic enzyme plasmin. Yeast cells and cell wall proteins (CWP) of the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans bound plasminogen with a K(d) of 70 +/- 11 nM and 112 +/- 20 nM respectively. Bound plasminogen could be activated to plasmin by mammalian plasminogen activators; no C. albicans plasminogen activator was detected. Binding of plasminogen to CWP and whole cells was inhibited by epsilon ACA, indicating that binding was predominantly to lysine residues. Candida albicans mutant strains defective in protein glycosylation did not show altered plasminogen binding, suggesting that binding was not mediated via a surface lectin. Binding was sensitive to digestion by basic carboxypeptidase, implicating C-terminal lysine residues in binding. Proteomic analysis identified eight major plasminogen-binding proteins in isolated CWP. Five of these (phosphoglycerate mutase, alcohol dehydrogenase, thioredoxin peroxidase, catalase, transcription elongation factor) had C-terminal lysine residues and three (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase and fructose bisphosphate aldolase) did not. Activation of plasminogen could potentially increase the capacity of this pathogenic fungus for tissue invasion and necrosis. Although surface-bound plasmin(ogen) degraded fibrin, no direct evidence for a role in invasion of endothelial matrix or in penetration and damage of endothelial cells was found.

Significant quantities of the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase are present in the cell wall of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

NaOH was used to extract proteins from the cell walls of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This treatment was shown not to disrupt yeast cells, as NaOH-extracted cells displayed a normal morphology upon electron microscopy. Moreover, extracted and untreated cells had qualitatively similar protein contents upon disruption. When yeast was grown in the presence of 1 M mannitol, two proteins were found to be present at an elevated concentration in the cell wall. These were found to be the late-embryogenic-abundant-like protein heat-shock protein 12 and the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase. The presence of phosphoglycerate mutase in the cell wall was confirmed by immunocytochemical analysis. Not only was the phosphoglycerate mutase in the yeast cell wall found to be active, but whole yeast cells were also able to convert 3-phosphoglycerate in the medium into ethanol, provided that the necessary cofactors were present.

Housekeeping enzymes as virulence factors for pathogens

Housekeeping enzymes are ubiquitously present in almost all living beings to perform essential metabolic functions for the purpose of survival. These enzymes have been characterized in detail for many years. In recent years, there has been a number of reports indicating that some of these enzymes perform a variety of other functions. In case of many pathogens, certain enzymes play a role to enhance virulence. To perform such a function, enzymes must be located on the surface of pathogens. Although they do not have the typical signal sequence or membrane anchoring mechanisms, they do get secreted and are displayed on the surface, probably by their reassociation. Once on the surface, these enzymes interact with host components, such as fibronectin and plasminogen, or interact directly with the host cells, to trigger signal transduction and thereby enable the pathogens to colonize, persist and invade the host tissue. Therefore, certain housekeeping enzymes may act as putative virulence factors and targets for the development of new strategies to control the infection by using agents that can block their secretion and/or reassociation.

Identification of major glucan-associated cell wall proteins of Candida albicans and their role in fluconazole resistance

Identification of major glucan-associated proteins (GAPs) of the cell wall of a number of Candida albicans isolates susceptible or resistant to fluconazole (FLC) was addressed by direct sequencing of the protein bands resolved by unidimensional gel electrophoresis. Changes in the GAP compositions of the different strains grown in the presence of the drug were also investigated. In the FLC-susceptible strains, the major (more abundant) GAPs were enolase (46 kDa), two isoforms of phosphoglyceromutase (32 and 29 kDa), and two beta-(1-3)-exoglucanases (44 and 34 kDa), one of which (the 34-kDa component) was glycosylated. When these strains were grown in the presence of FLC there were substantial decreases in the intensities of the two enzymes of the glycolytic pathway (enolase and the phosphoglyceromutases), which were apparently replaced by enhancement of the exoglucanase constituents, particularly the 44-kDa one. This GAP pattern closely mimicked that observed in the FLC-resistant strains whether they were grown in the presence or in the absence of the drug. Both the enolase and the exoglucanase constituents were detected in the culture supernatants of FLC-treated cells, together with substantial amounts of highly glycosylated, probably mannoprotein secretory material, suggesting that FLC may cause marked alterations of GAP incorporation into the cell wall. Altogether, we were able to identify all major GAP constituents and monitor their distributions in the cell wall of C. albicans during treatment with FLC. The near equivalence of the GAP profile for the FLC-susceptible strain grown in the presence of FLC to that for the FLC-resistant strain suggests that the effects of the drug on GAPs may be stably incorporated into the cell wall of the fungus upon acquisition of resistance.

Plasmin reduction by phosphoglycerate kinase is a thiol-independent process

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is secreted by tumor cells and facilitates reduction of disulfide bond(s) in plasmin (Lay, A. J., Jiang, X.-M., Kisker, O., Flynn, E., Underwood, A., Condron, R., and Hogg, P. J. (2000) Nature 408, 869-873). The angiogenesis inhibitor, angiostatin, is cleaved from the reduced plasmin by a combination of serine- and metalloproteinases. The chemistry of protein reductants is typically mediated by a pair of closely spaced Cys residues. There are seven Cys in human PGK, and mutation of all seven to Ala did not appreciably affect plasmin reductase activity, although some of the mutations perturbed the tertiary structure of the protein. Cys-379 and Cys-380 are close to the hinge that links the N- and C-terminal domains of PGK. Alkylation/oxidation of Cys-379 and -380 by four different thiol-reactive compounds reduced plasmin reductase activity to 7--35% of control. Binding of 3-phosphoglycerate and/or MgATP to the N- and C-terminal domains of PGK, respectively, triggers a hinge bending conformational change in the enzyme. Incubation of PGK with 3-phosphoglycerate and/or MgATP ablated plasmin reductase activity, with half-maximal inhibitory effects at approximately 1 mm concentration. In summary, reduction of plasmin by PGK is a thiol-independent process, although either alkylation/oxidation of the fast-reacting Cys near the hinge or hinge bending conformational change in PGK perturbs plasmin reduction by PGK, perhaps by obstructing the interaction of plasmin with PGK or perturbing conformational changes in PGK required for plasmin reduction.

Dual cell wall/mitochondria localization of the 'SUN' family proteins

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUN family gene products, namely Sim1p, Uth1p, Nca3p and Sun4p, show a high degree of homology among themselves and are closely related to beta-glucosidase of Candida wickerhamii; however, these proteins do not bear such an activity. Dithiothreitol-treatment of intact cells induces the release of Uth1p, Sun4p and Sim1p from the cell wall. These highly glycosylated proteins are thus non-covalently bound to the cell wall. Two of them, Uth1p and Sun4p, have also been found in mitochondria. Sub-localization experiments show that Uth1p is inserted in the outer mitochondrial membrane and that Sun4p is preferentially a matrix protein. The physiological significance of this double localization is discussed in relation to the roles of these proteins in different cellular processes, namely mitochondrial biogenesis and cell septation.

Isolation and sequence analysis of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene promoter region

The Glomus mosseae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (GmPGK) gene promoter has been isolated from a phage genomic library and represents one of the few promoter elements to be isolated and analysed from these symbiotic fungi. The analysis revealed the presence of several motifs which are found in the promoter region of other fungal PGK genes. In particular, DNA sequences homologous to segments of the S. cerevisiae and Rhizopus niveus upstream activating elements (UAS). The importance of these UAS sequences in regulating carbon source in PGK genes is known and the presence of two carbon source regulated UAS sequences in the GmPGK gene promoter and its role in the biology of AM fungi is discussed briefly.

Plasminogen-binding activity of enolase in the opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis carinii

The glycolytic enzyme enolase is one of the most abundant proteins expressed in fungi and has been shown to be an immunodominant cell-wall-associated antigen of the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. Enolase has also been found on the surface of some mammalian cells where it functions as a plasminogen-binding motif and facilitator of plasminogen activation to plasmin. To investigate the immunogenicity of enolase in the opportunistic pathogen, Pneumocystis carinii, the genomic and complementary DNA (cDNA) enolase were cloned and characterized. The predicted protein comprises 433 amino-acid residues and shows extensive homology to other fungal enolases, including those of C. albicans (76%), Aspergillus oryzae (79%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (77%). The purified recombinant P. carinii enolase was immunogenic, and may be an important antigen and indicator of P. carinii infection. The active site and conformation metal ion-binding site residues necessary for dimerization and enzyme function are conserved in the predicted P. carinii enolase protein. Enolase of P. carinii is unique among the fungal enolases in that it possesses a catalytic carboxyl-terminal lysyl residue that was necessary and sufficient for the plasminogen-binding activity of the enolase of P. carinii. The activity of the plasminogen binding suggests its involvement in the local regulation of fibrinolysis within the alveolar space.

Antibodies to alpha5beta1 and alpha(v)beta3 integrins react with Candida albicans alcohol dehydrogenase

It has been hypothesized that Candida albicans possesses integrin-like receptors on its cell surface. This is because C. albicans binds numerous fluid-phase extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on its cell surface and adheres to the same ECM proteins when immobilized. In addition, numerous antibodies to human integrins (receptors for ECM proteins) bind to the fungal cell surface and in so doing inhibit the binding of the respective proteins. To demonstrate the presence of such a cell surface integrin, a cDNA library of C. albicans yeast cells was screened with polyclonal antiserum to the human fibronectin receptor (alpha5beta1 integrin). Clones isolated by this screening technique also reacted specifically to antiserum against the human vitronectin receptor (alpha(v)beta3 integrin). DNA sequence analysis of the cloned insert predicted a 350 aa protein (37 kDa). This predicted protein showed 75% homology at the nucleotide sequence level to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In vitro transcription/translation of the cloned inserts yielded a 37 kDa protein that was immunoprecipitated with antibodies to the alpha5beta1 and alpha(v)beta3 integrins and an antibody to a C. albicans fibronectin receptor. These antibodies and an mAb to the human vitronectin receptor demonstrated an antigen of -37 kDa present in the cell-wall preparations of C. albicans and in spent growth medium. All four antibodies reacted with authentic ADH. The possible significance of these results in relation to C. albicans adherence is discussed.

The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase polypeptides encoded by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TDH1, TDH2 and TDH3 genes are also cell wall proteins

The authors show that the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, previously thought to be restricted to the cell interior, is also present in the cell wall. GAPDH activity, proportional to cell number and time of incubation, was detected in intact wild-type yeast cells. Intact cells of yeast strains containing insertion mutations in each of the three structural TDH genes (tdh1, tdh2 and tdh3) and double mutants (tdh1 tdh2 and tdh1 tdh3) also displayed a cell-wall-associated GAPDH activity, in the range of parental wild-type cells, although with significant differences among strains. A cell wall location of GAPDH was further confirmed in wild-type and tdh mutants by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis with a polyclonal antibody against S. cerevisiae GAPDH. By immunoelectron microscopy, the GAPDH protein was detected at the outer surface of the cell wall of wild-type cells, as well as in the cytoplasm. Western immunoblot analysis of cell wall extracts and cytosol showed that Tdh2 and Tdh3 polypeptides are present in the cell wall, as well as in the cytosol, of exponentially growing cells. Tdh1 is only detected in stationary-phase cells, again in both cytosol and cell wall extracts. The results incorporate the GAPDH of S. cerevisiae, encoded by TDH1-3, into the newly emerging family of multifunctional cell-wall-associated GAPDHs which retain their catalytic activity.

Phosphoglycerate kinase acts in tumour angiogenesis as a disulphide reductase

Disulphide bonds in secreted proteins are considered to be inert because of the oxidizing nature of the extracellular milieu. An exception to this rule is a reductase secreted by tumour cells that reduces disulphide bonds in the serine proteinase plasmin. Reduction of plasmin initiates proteolytic cleavage in the kringle 5 domain and release of the tumour blood vessel inhibitor angiostatin. New blood vessel formation or angiogenesis is critical for tumour expansion and metastasis. Here we show that the plasmin reductase isolated from conditioned medium of fibrosarcoma cells is the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase. Recombinant phosphoglycerate kinase had the same specific activity as the fibrosarcoma-derived protein. Plasma of mice bearing fibrosarcoma tumours contained several-fold more phosphoglycerate kinase, as compared with mice without tumours. Administration of phosphoglycerate kinase to tumour-bearing mice caused an increase in plasma levels of angiostatin, and a decrease in tumour vascularity and rate of tumour growth. Our findings indicate that phosphoglycerate kinase not only functions in glycolysis but is secreted by tumour cells and participates in the angiogenic process as a disulphide reductase.

Carbohydrate and energy-yielding metabolism in non-conventional yeasts

Sugars are excellent carbon sources for all yeasts. Since a vast amount of information is available on the components of the pathways of sugar utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae it has been tacitly assumed that other yeasts use sugars in the same way. However, although the pathways of sugar utilization follow the same theme in all yeasts, important biochemical and genetic variations on it exist. Basically, in most non-conventional yeasts, in contrast to S. cerevisiae, respiration in the presence of oxygen is prominent for the use of sugars. This review provides comparative information on the different steps of the fundamental pathways of sugar utilization in non-conventional yeasts: glycolysis, fermentation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway and respiration. We consider also gluconeogenesis and, briefly, catabolite repression. We have centered our attention in the genera Kluyveromyces, Candida, Pichia, Yarrowia and Schizosaccharomyces, although occasional reference to other genera is made. The review shows that basic knowledge is missing on many components of these pathways and also that studies on regulation of critical steps are scarce. Information on these points would be important to generate genetically engineered yeast strains for certain industrial uses.

A proteomic approach for the study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall biogenesis

In fungi, cell shape is determined by the presence of a rigid cell wall which separates the cell from the extracellular medium. This highly dynamic structure is essential for the maintenance of cell integrity and is involved in several phenomena such as flocculation, adherence and pathogenicity. The composition of the fungal cell wall is well known, but issues such as the assembly and remodeling of its components remain poorly understood. In an attempt to study the de novo construction of the yeast cell wall, we have undertaken a large-scale proteomic approach to analyze the proteins secreted by regenerating protoplasts. Upon incubation of protoplasts in regenerating conditions, numerous proteins are secreted into the culture medium. These presumably include proteins destined for the cell wall, comprising both structural proteins as well as enzymes involved in cell wall biogenesis. This work reports the establishment of a reference map of proteins secreted by regenerating protoplasts by means of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and their identification by mass spectrometry. Thirty-two different proteins have been identified, including known cell wall proteins, glycolytic enzymes, heat shock proteins, and proteins involved in several other processes. Using this approach, novel proteins possibly involved in cell wall construction have also been identified. This reference map will allow comparative analyses to be carried out on a selected collection of mutants affected in the cell wall.

Evaluation of the CaMAL2 promoter for regulated expression of genes in Candida albicans

An expression vector (CIp10-MAL2p) for use in Candida albicans has been constructed in which a gene of interest can be placed under the control of the CaMAL2 maltase promoter and stably integrated at the CaRP10 locus. Using this vector to express the Candida URA3 gene from the CaMAL2 promoter, we have demonstrated tight regulation of CaURA3 expression by carbon source. Thus under conditions when the CaMAL2 promoter is not induced, expression of Candida URA3 was unable either to complement a C. albicans ura3 mutation or to confer sensitivity to 5-fluoroorotic acid, a compound which is highly toxic to URA3 strains. Since Candida albicans is an obligate diploid organism, analysis of gene function requires manipulation of both copies of any gene of interest. Our expression vector provides a strategy by which the remaining copy of a gene of interest can be placed under CaMAL2 promoter control in a strain where the first copy has been deleted, permitting analysis of gene function by manipulation of carbon source. CIp10-MAL2p should therefore provide a useful means for functional analysis of genes in C. albicans. We have used this strategy with C. albicans DPB2 to demonstrate that the gene is essential and that loss of function leads cells to adopt a hypha-like morphology as they cease proliferation.

Flocculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is induced by transformation with the GAP1 gene from Kluyveromyces marxianus

A non-flocculent strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was transformed with the GAP1 gene which encodes p37, a GAPDH-like protein present in the cell wall of Kluyveromyces marxianus flocculent cells. The transformed cells were characterized with respect to flocculation behaviour, morphology, growth, cell wall integrity and GAPDH activity. A flocculent phenotype was acquired by the transformed cells, showing a behaviour in respect to flocculation/deflocculation very similar to that of K. marxianus. The presence of p37 in the cell wall was assessed by immunoprecipitation of biotinylated cell wall proteins and an accumulation of p37 was evident in the cell wall of transformed cells. This result was confirmed by studies using a chimeric protein resulting from fusing the p37 with a yeast-enhanced green fluorescent protein, yEGFP. The recombinant protein was localized mainly in the cell wall of the transformed strain, although the presence of p37 in the cytosol was indicated by an increase in GAPDH activity. Calcofluor white sensitivity tests indicated that the cell wall structure is affected by the accumulation of p37. These results provided further evidence of p37 function regarding flocculation and that although lacking a N-terminal signal peptide p37 is targeted to the cell wall.

Genome-wide analysis of gene expression regulated by the yeast cell wall integrity signalling pathway

The cell integrity pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae monitors cell wall remodelling during growth and differentiation. Additionally, this pathway responds to environmental stresses that challenge the integrity of the cell wall. We conducted a genome-wide survey of genes whose expression was altered in response to activation of Mpk1/Slt2, the MAP kinase, under the control of cell integrity signalling. We identified 25 genes whose regulation was altered by Mpk1 activity. Among these, 20 were positively regulated by Mpk1, and five were negatively regulated. Most of the genes identified encode either known or suspected cell wall proteins or enzymes involved in cell wall biogenesis. These include glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) proteins, members of the Pir family of cell wall proteins, Mpk1 itself and others. All of the regulation detected was mediated by the Rlm1 transcription factor, a MADS-box protein that is phosphorylated and activated by Mpk1, but for which no transcriptional targets had been identified. A similar pattern of regulation was observed when cell integrity signalling was induced by environmental stress (i.e. temperature upshift).

Enolase is present in the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Non-covalently attached or soluble cell wall proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were extracted using a high pH/2-mercaptoethanol procedure and were separated for peptide sequencing using 2D-PAGE. A partial N-terminal sequence of a major protein spot was obtained and showed high identity with enolase gene products. Western blotting with an anti-enolase antibody confirmed that enolase was present in the cell wall extract. Biotinylation of cells prior to protein extraction with a membrane impermeable biotinylating agent confirmed that the detection was not owing to cell lysis during extraction. Transmission immunoelectron microscopy showed enolase to be present in the cell wall. Enolase contains no known secretion signal that would localize it to the cell wall. Thus S. cerevisiae must have further mechanisms for targeting proteins to the cell wall.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as analytical tool for identifying Candida albicans immunogenic proteins

This paper reports the usefulness of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by Western blotting with sera from patients with systemic candidiasis in the identification of the major Candida albicans antigens. In order to have different patterns of protein expression and subcellular localization, three types of protein preparations were obtained: cytoplasmic extracts, protoplast lysates and proteins secreted by protoplasts regenerating their cell wall. These proteins were separated by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis using an immobilized pH gradient. Western blotting with sera from patients with systemic candidiasis allowed the detection of more than 18 immunoreactive proteins. Some of these proteins had different isoforms. All sera reacted with at least three C. albicans proteins and the most reactive serum detected up to eleven proteins. Some of these antigens, e.g., enolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), have been identified on the 2-D map. The most reactive proteins were enolase and a 34 kDa protein in the acidic part of the gel (pI 4-4.4) that was only detected in regenerating protoplast-secreted proteins. The identification of all these antigens would be useful for the development of diagnostic strategies.

Two-dimensional analysis of proteins secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae regenerating protoplasts: a novel approach to study the cell wall

Protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae incubated in regenerating conditions secrete cell wall components in order to allow the biosynthesis of this structure. During the first hours of incubation, many of these are not retained in the forming cell wall but remain in the medium. We have developed a method for collecting the secreted proteins and have analysed these by two-dimensional electrophoresis to obtain a reference map of putative cell wall proteins. Several proteins were identified by microsequencing or immunoblotting; namely, cell wall hydrolytic enzymes, heat shock proteins, glycolytic enzymes and others. Some beta-1,3- and beta-1, 6-glucosylation was detected in the proteins secreted by regenerating protoplasts.

Clinical strains of Candida albicans express the surface antigen glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in vitro and in infected tissues

We have previously described the presence of an enzymatically active form of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in the cell surface of Candida albicans ATCC 26555 which is also a fibronectin and laminin binding protein. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections from patients with disseminated candidiasis with a polyclonal antiserum to GAPDH from C. albicans (PAb anti-CA-GAPDH) revealed that the enzyme is expressed at the surface of fungal cells in infected tissues. The same PAb detected the presence of GAPDH species, with a molecular mass of approximately 33 kDa, in cell wall extracts obtained from clinical isolates of the fungus. These cell surface-bound GAPDH moieties exhibited a dose-dependent dehydrogenase activity. These results indicate that this cell surface-bound GAPDH plays a role during infection probably contributing to the attachment of fungal cells to host tissues.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of phosphofructokinase from the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida albicans

We have used the two PFK genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding the alpha and beta-subunit of the enzyme phosphofructokinase (Pfk) as heterologous probes to isolate fragments of the respective genes from the dimorphic pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The complete coding sequences were obtained by combining sequences of chromosomal fragments and fragments obtained by inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CaPFK1 and CaPFK2 comprise open reading frames of 2961 bp and 2838 bp, respectively, encoding Pfk subunits with deduced molecular masses of 109 kDa and 104 kDa. The genes presumably evolved by a duplication event from a prokaryotic type ancestor, followed by another duplication. Heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae revealed that each gene alone was able to complement the glucose-negative phenotype of a pfk1 pfk2 double mutant. In vitro Pfk activity in S. cerevisiae was not only obtained after coexpression of both genes, but also in conjunction with the respective complementary subunits from S. cerevisiae. This indicates the formation of functional hetero-oligomers consisting of C. albicans and S. cerevisiae Pfk subunits. In C. albicans, specific Pfk activity was shown to decrease twofold upon induction of hyphal growth. CaPfk cross-reacts with a polyclonal antiserum raised against ScPfk and displays similar allosteric properties, i.e. inhibition by ATP and activation by AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

The cell wall-associated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Candida albicans is also a fibronectin and laminin binding protein

By immunoelectron microscopy with a polyclonal antibody against the cytosolic glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from Candida albicans (anti-GAPDH PAb), the protein was clearly detected at the outer surface of the cell wall, particularly on blastoconidia, as well as in the cytoplasm. Intact blastoconidia were able to adhere to fibronectin and laminin immobilized on microtiter plates, and this adhesion was markedly reduced by both the anti-GAPDH PAb and soluble GAPDH from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition, semiquantitative flow cytometry analysis with the anti-GAPDH PAb showed a decrease in antibody binding to cells in the presence of soluble fibronectin and laminin. Purified cytosolic C. albicans GAPDH was found to bind to fibronectin and laminin in a ligand Western blot assay. These observations suggest that the cell wall-associated form of the GAPDH in C. albicans could be involved in mediating adhesion of fungal cells to fibronectin and laminin, thus contributing to the attachment of the microorganism to host tissues and to the dissemination of Candida infection.

Cell wall and secreted proteins of Candida albicans: identification, function, and expression

The cell wall is essential to nearly every aspect of the biology and pathogenicity of Candida albicans. Although it was initially considered an almost inert cellular structure that protected the protoplast against osmotic offense, more recent studies have demonstrated that it is a dynamic organelle. The major components of the cell wall are glucan and chitin, which are associated with structural rigidity, and mannoproteins. The protein component, including both mannoprotein and nonmannoproteins, comprises some 40 or more moieties. Wall proteins may differ in their expression, secretion, or topological location within the wall structure. Proteins may be modified by glycosylation (primarily addition of mannose residues), phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Among the secreted enzymes are those that are postulated to have substrates within the cell wall and those that find substrates in the extracellular environment. Cell wall proteins have been implicated in adhesion to host tissues and ligands. Fibrinogen, complement fragments, and several extracellular matrix components are among the host proteins bound by cell wall proteins. Proteins related to the hsp70 and hsp90 families of conserved stress proteins and some glycolytic enzyme proteins are also found in the cell wall, apparently as bona fide components. In addition, the expression of some proteins is associated with the morphological growth form of the fungus and may play a role in morphogenesis. Finally, surface mannoproteins are strong immunogens that trigger and modulate the host immune response during candidiasis.

Kluyveromyces marxianus flocculence and growth at high temperature is dependent on the presence of the protein p37

A Kluyveromyces marxianus mutant deficient in p37, a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)-like protein, was obtained and characterized with respect to flocculation behaviour, resistance to temperatures above the optimum for growth, morphology, growth, calcofluor white sensitivity and GAPDH activity. In YPD media, the mutant cells were unable to flocculate and were thermosensitive. However, this thermosensitivity could be overcome by the presence of calcium. Calcofluor white was toxic to the mutant, indicating that the mutation affects cell wall structure. The contribution of p37 to total GAPDH activity was 25% when cells were using glucose as carbon source and 50% when cells were growing in 3% ethanol. These results indicate that p37 is likely to be involved in thermotolerance and flocculation, which can be related to its contribution to cell wall integrity.

Serologic response to cell wall mannoproteins and proteins of Candida albicans

The cell wall of Candida albicans not only is the structure in which many biological functions essential for the fungal cells reside but also is a significant source of candidal antigens. The major cell wall components that elicit a response from the host immune system are proteins and glycoproteins, the latter being predominantly mannoproteins. Both the carbohydrate and protein moieties are able to trigger immune responses. Although cell-mediated immunity is often considered to be the most important line of defense against candidiasis, cell wall protein and glycoprotein components also elicit a potent humoral response from the host that may include some protective antibodies. Proteins and glycoproteins exposed at the most external layers of the wall structure are involved in several types of interactions of fungal cells with the exocellular environment. Thus, coating of fungal cells with host antibodies has the potential to influence profoundly the host-parasite interaction by affecting antibody-mediated functions such as opsonin-enhanced phagocytosis and blocking the binding activity of fungal adhesins for host ligands. In this review, the various members of the protein and glycoprotein fraction of the C. albicans cell wall that elicit an antibody response in vivo are examined. Although a number of proteins have been shown to stimulate an antibody response, for some of these species the response is not universal. On the other hand, some of the studies demonstrate that certain cell wall antigens and anti-cell wall antibodies may be the basis for developing specific and sensitive serologic tests for the diagnosis of candidasis, particularly the disseminated form. In addition, recent studies have focused on the potential for antibodies to cell wall protein determinants to protect the host against infection. Hence, a better understanding of the humoral response to cell wall antigens of C. albicans may provide the basis for the development of (i) effective procedures for the serodiagnosis of disseminated candidiasis and (ii) novel prophylactic (vaccination) and therapeutic strategies for the management of this type of infection.

The glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Candida albicans is a surface antigen

A lambda gt11 cDNA library from Candida albicans ATCC 26555 was screened by using pooled sera from two patients with systemic candidiasis and five neutropenic patients with high levels of anti-C. albicans immunoglobulin M antibodies. Seven clones were isolated from 60,000 recombinant phages. The most reactive one contained a 0.9-kb cDNA encoding a polypeptide immunoreactive only with sera from patients with systemic candidiasis. The whole gene was isolated from a genomic library by using the cDNA as a probe. The nucleotide sequence of the coding region showed homology (78 to 79%) to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TDH1 to TDH3 genes coding for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and their amino acid sequences showed 76% identity; thus, this gene has been named C. albicans TDH1. A rabbit polyclonal antiserum against the purified cytosolic C. albicans GAPDH (polyclonal antibody [PAb] anti-CA-GAPDH) was used to identify the GAPDH in the beta-mercaptoethanol extracts containing cell wall moieties. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of GAPDH at the C. albicans cell surface, particularly on the blastoconidia. Semiquantitative flow cytometry analysis showed the sensitivity of this GAPDH form to trypsin and its resistance to be removed with 2 M NaCl or 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The decrease in fluorescence in the presence of soluble GAPDH indicates the specificity of the labelling. In addition, a dose-dependent GAPDH enzymatic activity was detected in intact blastoconidia and germ tube cells. This activity was reduced by pretreatment of the cells with trypsin, formaldehyde, and PAb anti-CA-GAPDH. These observations indicate that an immunogenic, enzymatically active cell wall-associated form of the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH is found at the cell surface of C. albicans cells.