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Protoplasts fusion hybrids from Candida albicans morphological mutants
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Critical Reviews in Microbiology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Protoplast fusion in Candida albicans revealed that recessive mutant alleles can be unmasked. Complementary mutant strains produced wild-type hybrids, indicating distinct genetic determinants for similar phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Understanding its genetic mechanisms is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies.
- Previous studies suggested the presence of recessive mutant alleles in C. albicans 1001.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genetic complementation and segregation in Candida albicans using protoplast fusion.
- To analyze the genetic basis of different mutant phenotypes in C. albicans.
Main Methods:
- Protoplast fusion of three pairs of Candida albicans strains.
- Regeneration of fusion products in selection medium.
- Isolation and characterization of hybrids and segregants.
Main Results:
- Auxotrophic hybrids exhibited normal morphology but produced rough-filamentous segregants, suggesting DNA content reduction and unmasking of recessive alleles.
- Crossing a permanently filamentous (Y-) strain with a mycelium-deficient (F-) strain yielded wild-type hybrids capable of normal mycelium formation.
- Two Y- strains with similar rough colony and pseudomycelial phenotypes complemented each other, producing wild-type hybrids.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates genetic complementation in Candida albicans through protoplast fusion.
- Different mutant phenotypes in C. albicans can arise from distinct genetic determinants, even with similar observable traits.