[Cloning and functional study of CaPPe1 in Candida albicans by using Saccharomyses cerevisiae model system]

The dimorphic transition of yeast and hyphal forms is one of most determinants in Candida albicans for its pathogenicity. This transition is regulated by several signal transduction pathways. Transcriptional factor Flo8 plays an important role in morphogenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, a C. albicans genomic DNA library was introduced into a S. cerevisiae flo8/flo8 mutant and genes which could suppress invasive growth defect were isolated. A novel gene was isolated and designated CaPPE1 (Candida albicans PPE1 gene). CaPPE1 encoded for a 361 amino acid protein CaPpe1, shared highest similarity in amino acids (35% identity) with the protein phosphatase methylesterase Ppel of S. cerevisiae. In haploid of S. cerevisiae, ectopic expressed CaPPE1 could partially suppress the invasive growth defect of the flo8 mutant but failed to suppressed the invasive growth defects of the mutants in MAPK pathway(ste12/ste12 and tec1/ tecl). Ectopic expression of the CaPPE1 in diploid of S. cerevisiae suppress the filamentous growth defect of some mutants in MAPK pathway, but not in flo8/flo8 mutant under nitrogen starvation condition. It is suggested that CaPpe1 may be involved in different regulating pathways in diploid filamentous growth and in haploid invasive growth.