Inductions of Germ Tube and Hyphal Formations are Controlled by mRNA Synthesis Inhibitor in Candida albicans

Abstract

Candida albicans is a pathogenic dimorphic fungus. When yeast cells were pre-incubated in YPD medium at 25°C and released into HFM7 medium containing 4% serum at 37°C, germ tubes emerged within 0.5h. To determine whether mRNA or protein synthesis was necessary for germ tube formation, we examined the effects of mRNA and protein syntheses inhibitors on this formation. In the presence of cycloheximide, cells were unbudded and no germ tube was observed. However, in the presence of actinomycin D, germ tube formation was observed while budding growth and true hyphae elongation were blocked. Next, we measured mRNA or protein accumulation during induction of germ tube formation in the presence of the inhibitors. In the presence of cycloheximide, protein was not synthesized, while in the presence of actinomycin D, mRNA synthesis decreased to 6.3% and protein synthesis to 37.7%. The condition we found which allows only germination but not budding or filamentation might be convenient to use in screening genes involved in the initial stage of morphological change in C. albicans.