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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Interspecies pheromone signaling promotes biofilm formation and same-sex mating in Candida albicans
Author(s):		Alby K; Bennett RJ;
Address:		"Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110124
Issue:		6
Page Number:		2510 - 2515
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.1017234108
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans undergoes a parasexual mating cycle in which cells must switch from the conventional 'white' form to the alternative 'opaque' form to become mating competent. Pheromones secreted by opaque cells induce the formation of polarized mating projections and result in cell-cell conjugation. In contrast, white cells are unable to undergo mating, but can still respond to pheromone by expression of adhesion genes that promote biofilm formation. In this study, we have analyzed the dual ability of pheromones to activate mating by opaque cells and biofilm formation by white cells. We first show that there is considerable plasticity in interactions between the alpha pheromone and its receptor, Ste2, by analysis of analogs of the alpha pheromone. Significantly, substituted forms of alpha pheromone can induce a response in opaque cells and this is sufficient to drive same-sex a-a cell fusion and homothallic mating. In addition, pheromone analogs were able to induce adhesion and biofilm formation in white cells of C. albicans. Because of the observed plasticity in pheromone signaling, we subsequently tested putative pheromones from multiple Candida species and identified nonnative ligands that can induce self-mating and biofilm responses in C. albicans. Our findings demonstrate that environmental signals can initiate C. albicans parasexual reproduction and biofilm formation, and highlight the role of the pheromone-signaling apparatus in mediating these functions"
Keywords:		Biofilms/*growth & development Candida albicans/cytology/genetics/*metabolism Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism Mating Factor Peptides/genetics/*metabolism Reproduction Signal Transduction/*physiology;
Notes:		"MedlineAlby, Kevin Bennett, Richard J eng R21 AI081560/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ AI081560/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ F31DE019752/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ F31 DE019752/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ R21AI081560/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R01 AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ R56 AI087401/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/01/26 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Feb 8; 108(6):2510-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1017234108. Epub 2011 Jan 24"