Overexpression of the White Opaque Switching Master Regulator Wor1 Alters Lipid Metabolism and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Candida albicans</i>
2022
Susana Hidalgo-Vico | Josefina Casas | Carolina García | M. Pilar Lillo | Rebeca Alonso-Monge | Elvira Román | Jesús Pla
<i>Candida albicans</i> is a commensal yeast that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans; increased colonization of this yeast in this niche has implicated the master regulator of the white-opaque transition, Wor1, by mechanisms not completely understood. We have addressed the role that this transcription factor has on commensalism by the characterization of strains overexpressing this gene. We show that <i>WOR1</i> overexpression causes an alteration of the total lipid content of the fungal cell and significantly alters the composition of structural and reserve molecular species lipids as determined by lipidomic analysis. These cells are hypersensitive to membrane-disturbing agents such as SDS, have increased tolerance to azoles, an augmented number of peroxisomes, and increased phospholipase activity. <i>WOR1</i> overexpression also decreases mitochondrial activity and results in altered susceptibility to certain oxidants. All together, these changes reflect drastic alterations in the cellular physiology that facilitate adaptation to the gastrointestinal tract environment.
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