Abstract:The cell wall of the human pathogen Candida glabrata governs initial host-pathogen interactions that underlie the establishment of fungal infections. With the aim of identifying species-specific features that may directly relate to its virulence we have investigated the cell wall of C. glabrata in a multidisciplinary approach that combines microscopy imaging, biochemical studies, bioinformatics and tandem mass spectrometry. Electron microscopy revealed a bilayered wall structure in which the outer layer is packed with mannoproteins. Biochemical studies showed that C. glabrata walls incorporate 50% more protein than S. cerevisiae walls and, consistent with this, have a higher Mannose/Glucose ratio. Evidence is presented that C. glabrata walls contain GPI proteins, covalently-bound to the wall 1,6-beta-glucan, as well as proteins linked through a mild alkali-sensitive linkage to 1,3-beta-glucan. A comprehensive genome-wide in silico inspection showed that, in comparison to other fungi, C. glabrata contains an exceptionally large number of 67 genes encoding adhesin-like GPI proteins. Phylogenetically these adhesin-like proteins form different clusters, one of which is the lectin-like EPA family. Mass spectrometric analysis identified 23 cell wall proteins, including four novel adhesin-like proteins, Awp1/2/3/4, and Epa6, which is involved in adherence to human epithelia and biofilm formation. Importantly, the presence of adhesin-like proteins in the wall depended on the growth stage and on the genetic background used, and this was reflected in alterations in adhesion capacity and cell surface hydrophobicity. We propose that the large repertoire of adhesin(-like) genes of C. glabrata contribute to its adaptability and virulence.

Status: Published Type: Journal Article|Research Support, Non-u.s. Gov't PubMed ID: 18806209

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#1-10(AWP1-AWP9) #11-20(CAGL0B00110g-CAGL0G00099g) #21-30(CAGL0G00110g-CAGL0J05159g) #31-40(CAGL0L00157g-ECM331) #41-50(EPA10-EPA9) #51-60(GAS1-PIR1) #61-70(PIR1-PWP7) #71-76(SCW4-UTR2)

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#1-10(AWP1-AWP9) #11-20(CAGL0B00110g-CAGL0G00099g) #21-30(CAGL0G00110g-CAGL0J05159g) #31-40(CAGL0L00157g-ECM331) #41-50(EPA10-EPA9) #51-60(GAS1-PIR1) #61-70(PIR1-PWP7) #71-76(SCW4-UTR2)

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#1-10(AWP1-AWP9) #11-20(CAGL0B00110g-CAGL0G00099g) #21-30(CAGL0G00110g-CAGL0J05159g) #31-40(CAGL0L00157g-ECM331) #41-50(EPA10-EPA9) #51-60(GAS1-PIR1) #61-70(PIR1-PWP7) #71-76(SCW4-UTR2)

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