Eukaryotic Cell
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Eukaryotic Cell, February 2004, p. 135-143, Vol. 3, No. 1
1535-9778/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/EC.3.1.135-143.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Candida albicans Csy1p Is a Nutrient Sensor Important for Activation of Amino Acid Uptake and Hyphal Morphogenesis

Elisa Brega,1,2 Rachel Zufferey,1,3 and Choukri Ben Mamoun1,2*

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis,1 Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology,2 Department of Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 060303

Received 3 September 2003/ Accepted 4 November 2003

Candida albicans is an important human pathogen that displays a remarkable ability to detect changes in its environment and to respond appropriately by changing its cell morphology and physiology. Serum- and amino acid-based media are known to induce filamentous growth in this organism. However, the mechanism by which amino acids induce filamentation is not yet known. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of the primary amino acid sensor of C. albicans, Csy1. We show that Csy1p plays an important role in amino acid sensing and filamentation. Loss of Csy1p results in a lack of amino acid-mediated activation of amino acid transport and a lack of induction of transcription of specific amino acid permease genes. Furthermore, a csy1{Delta}/csy1{Delta} strain, lacking Csy1p, is defective in filamentation and displays altered colony morphology in serum- and amino acid-based media. These data provide the first evidence that C. albicans utilizes the amino acid sensor Csy1p to probe its environment, coordinate its nutritional requirements, and determine its morphological state.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030. Phone: (860) 679-3544. Fax: (860) 679-8130. E-mail: choukri{at}up.uchc.edu.

Eukaryotic Cell, February 2004, p. 135-143, Vol. 3, No. 1
1535-9778/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/EC.3.1.135-143.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Infect. Immun. J. Bacteriol.
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Copyright © 2004 by the American Society for Microbiology.