Discovery of a phenotypic switch regulating sexual mating in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1112076109
• Publication Date: 2011-12-09T01:38:51Z
• Authors: Allison M. Porman; Kevin Alby; Matthew P. Hirakawa; Richard J. Bennett
• Keywords: Obligate; Sexual reproduction; Asexual reproduction; Asexuality

Sexual reproduction can promote genetic diversity in eukaryotes, and yet many pathogenic fungi have been labeled as obligate asexual species. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that cryptic sexual programs may exist some species, efficient mating requires the necessary developmental switch to be triggered. In this study we investigate Candida tropicalis , an important human fungal pathogen has reported asexual. Significantly, demonstrate C. uses a phenotypic regulate program of mating. Thus, diploid α cells must undergo transition mating-competent form, only then does cell-cell conjugation take place resulting formation stable a/α tetraploids. We show both depend on conserved transcriptional regulator Wor1, which regulated by temperature other contrast, occurs efficiently at 25 °C 37 °C, suggesting it could occur mammalian host direct consequences for outcome infection. Transcriptional profiling further reveals ≈400 genes are differentially expressed between two states, including regulatory factor Wor1. Taken together, our results unique program, entry controlled via Wor1-mediated, metastable switch. These observations implications regulation evolution related pathogens.