An analysis of respiratory function and mitochondrial morphology in Candida albicans

Abstract

Respiratory function and mitochondrial dynamics have been well characterised in a number of cell types, including the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but remain under-researched in fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans. An understanding of mitochondrial activity and morphology is important if we are to understand the role that this organelle plays in adaption and response to stress. Here we examine the respiratory profiles of several prominent pathogenic Candida species and present a useful GFP probe for the study of mitochondrial morphology. We examine mitochondrial morphology under a variety of conditions that Candida species may encounter within the host, such as acidic pH, respiratory and oxidative stress. The GFP probe also allowed for the visualisation of mitochondria during hyphal development, during growth following macrophage engulfment and distribution within biofilms. These data demonstrate that the mitochondrial network of C. albicans is highly responsive to both environmental conditions and developmental cues, suggesting important roles for this organelle in environmental adaption.

Antimicrobial Activity of the Peptide LfcinB15 against Candida albicans

“…The mitochondrial ETC of C. glabrata resembles that of S. cerevisiae rather than C. albicans , and does not express a multi-subunit complex I [ 74 ]. In addition, the OCR of C. glabrata cells is significantly lower than that of C. albicans [ 75 ]. However, clarifying the different LfcinB15 susceptibility will require more clinical isolates of C. glabrata for future study.…”

Rsr1 Palmitoylation and GTPase Activity Status Differentially Coordinate Nuclear, Septin, and Vacuole Dynamics in Candida albicans

“…The complexity of mitochondrial morphology may therefore be an indicator of the metabolic state of the cell. We investigated mitochondrial morphology by expressing and imaging mitoGFP (mtGFP) in the rsr1 Δ mutant ( 64 ). In G 1 compartments of wild-type hyphae, mitochondria took the form of a thin filament at the periphery of each compartment between the cell cortex and the large vacuoles, visualized by FM4-64 staining, while mitochondria in growing apical cells were reticulate and densely packed around the fragments of newly inherited vacuole ( Fig.…”

“…Transformants were confirmed by PCR, generating strains A582, A572, A574, A577, and A578. Plasmid pACT1-mtGFP bearing a mitochondrial localization signal ( 64 ) was linearized by StuI and integrated at the RPS1 locus of CA8832. Cells were selected and integration was confirmed as described above.…”