The putative transient receptor potential (TRP) channel protein encoded by the orf19.4805 is involved in cation sensitivity, antifungal tolerance and filamentation in Candida albicans

The ancient family of cation channels, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, is highly conserved in eukaryotes and plays various physiological functions from sensation of ion homeostasis to reception of pain and vision. Calcium-permeable TRP channels have been identified from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCsc1) and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScCsc1), respectively. In this study, we have characterized the functions of the Csc1 homolog, the orf19.4805, in Candida albicans. The orf19.4805 is a protein of 866 amino acids and 11 transmembrane domains, which shares a 49% identity (69% similarity) in amino acid sequence with ScRsn1. Here we demonstrate that deletion of orf19.4805 causes C. albicans cells sensitive to SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and antifungal drugs as well as tolerant to zinc, manganese and cadmium ions. C. albicans cells lacking the orf19.4805 show a defect in filamentation in vitro. Therefore, the orf19.4805 is involved in the regulation of cation homeostasis and filamentation in C. albicans.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author