Candida albicans Potassium Transporters

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-04, Vol.23 (9), p.4884
• Main Authors: Ruiz-Castilla, Francisco J, Ruiz Pérez, Francisco S, Ramos-Moreno, Laura, Ramos, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - metabolism; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - metabolism; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Fungicides; Genes; Genomes; Homeostasis; Homology; Infections; Intracellular; Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Membranes; Microbiota; Organelles; Pathogenicity; Plasma; Potassium; Potassium - metabolism; Proteins; Review; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Yeast
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094884

Potassium is basic for life. All living organisms require high amounts of intracellular potassium, which fulfils multiple functions. To reach efficient potassium homeostasis, eukaryotic cells have developed a complex and tightly regulated system of transporters present both in the plasma membrane and in the membranes of internal organelles that allow correct intracellular potassium content and distribution. We review the information available on the pathogenic yeast While some of the plasma membrane potassium transporters are relatively well known and experimental data about their nature, function or regulation have been published, in the case of most of the transporters present in intracellular membranes, their existence and even function have just been deduced because of their homology with those present in other yeasts, such as Finally, we analyse the possible links between pathogenicity and potassium homeostasis. We comment on the possibility of using some of these transporters as tentative targets in the search for new antifungal drugs.