Repression of hyphal proteinase expression by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatase Cpp1p of Candida albicans is independent of the MAP kinase Cek1p

• Published in: Infection and immunity 2000-12, Vol.68 (12), p.7159-7161
• Main Authors: SCHRÖPPEL, Klaus, SPRÖSSER, Katrin, WHITEWAY, Malcolm, THOMAS, David Y, RÖLLINGHOFF, Martin, CSANK, Csilla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - enzymology; Candida albicans - genetics; Cpp1 protein; DNA-Binding Proteins; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal and Parasitic Infections; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - physiology; Growth, nutrition, metabolism, transports, enzymes. Molecular biology; HYR1 gene; MAP kinase phosphatase; Microbiology; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - physiology; Mycology; Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - physiology; Repressor Proteins - physiology; RNA, Messenger - analysis; SAP4-6 gene; Sek1 protein; Transcription Factors
• ISSN: 0019-9567; 1098-5522
• DOI: 10.1128/IAI.68.12.7159-7161.2000

Cpp1p is a putative mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatase that suppresses Candida albicans hyphal formation at 25 degrees C through its probable substrate, the Cek1p filamentation MAP kinase. Here we report that expression of the serum-induced genes SAP4-6 and HYR1 increased several fold in hyphal forms of a cpp1/cpp1 null mutant, while the rate and extent of hyphal development up to 5 h were normal. Therefore, we provide evidence that Cpp1p represses hyphal gene expression by acting through a Cek1p-independent mechanism. SAP4-6 and HYR1 transcripts were undetectable in a null mutant of another key regulator of filamentation, Efg1p; thus, Efg1p and Cpp1p oppose each other during the expression of these genes in hyphal forms.