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Regulation of meiotic gene expression is functional in the human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata

Natalia Klimova1, Cindy Ngov2, Frédéric Devaux3

  • 1Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.

FEMS Yeast Research
|April 2, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Candida glabrata Zcf11, a homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae UME6, negatively regulates genes for sexual reproduction. This suggests the fungal pathogen may possess a functional sexual cycle.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Mycology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Candida glabrata, a human fungal pathogen, is closely related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model organism with a well-characterized sexual cycle.
  • Both species possess homologous genes for mating and meiosis, yet C. glabrata's sexual cycle remains unobserved.
  • The UME6 gene in S. cerevisiae controls meiotic gene expression; its C. glabrata homolog, Zcf11, is essential but functionally uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Zcf11 in Candida glabrata.
  • To determine if Zcf11 regulates genes involved in mating and meiosis.
  • To explore the potential for a sexual cycle in C. glabrata.

Main Methods:

  • Complementation assay: expressing S. cerevisiae UME6 in C. glabrata Zcf11 knock-down strains.
  • DNA binding analysis to compare Zcf11 and Ume6 binding.
  • Gene expression profiling of Zcf11 knock-down strains.

Main Results:

  • S. cerevisiae UME6 partially complemented Zcf11 knock-down in C. glabrata.
  • Zcf11 and Ume6 recognize the same DNA sequence.
  • Zcf11 acts as a negative regulator of meiotic and mating genes in C. glabrata.

Conclusions:

  • Zcf11 is a functional homolog of Ume6, regulating genes essential for sexual reproduction in C. glabrata.
  • The regulatory mechanisms for meiotic gene expression are conserved and functional in C. glabrata.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that C. glabrata may possess a cryptic or conditional sexual cycle.
Keywords:
C. glabratagene expressionmatingmeiosistranscription factor

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