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The Fungal Woronin Body

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Biology of the Fungal Cell

Part of the book series: The Mycota ((MYCOTA,volume 8))

Abstract

Until 1999, Candida albicans was considered asexual. In that year, a mating type-like (MTL) locus was identified, and in the following year mating between a/a and alpha/alpha strains was demonstrated. While the mating process of C. albicans proved similar to that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, unique features of the process related it to both high frequency phenotypic switching (i.e., the white-opaque transition) and virulence. In order for strains of C. albicans to mate, they first had to undergo MTL-homozygosis from a/alpha to a/a or alpha/alpha, but that was not sufficient. They then had to switch from the white to the opaque phase, a reversible transition involving the regulation of 6% of the C. albicans genome. But why did C. albicans have to undergo this complex differentiation when S. cerevisiae did not? Could it be related to pathogenesis? There is evidence that C. albicans undergoes this transition to facilitate mating through a unique signaling system between mating-competent opaque and mating-incompetent white cells that leads to the genesis of a biofilm. Candida glabrata was also considered asexual until 2003, when a mating system similar to that of S. cerevisiae was identified. While mating type switching has been demonstrated in C. glabrata, the mating event has not . It is also not clear if the mating process of C. glabrata is related to virulence, as it appears to be in C. albicans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, Singapore, 117604

    T. Dhavale & G. Jedd

Authors
  1. T. Dhavale
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  2. G. Jedd
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. DuPont Crop Genetics, Experimental Station E353 Powder Mill Road, Wilmington, DE, 19880-0353, USA

    Richard J. Howard

  2. School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Neil A. R. Gow

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Dhavale, T., Jedd, G. (2007). The Fungal Woronin Body. In: Howard, R.J., Gow, N.A.R. (eds) Biology of the Fungal Cell. The Mycota, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70618-2_3

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