Biomaterial Database

Candida albicans Cek1 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling enhances fungicidal activity of salivary histatin 5. 2015

Rui Li, and Sumant Puri, and Swetha Tati, and Paul J Cullen, and Mira Edgerton

Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.

Candida albicans is a major etiological organism for oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), while salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5) is a human fungicidal protein that protects the oral cavity from OPC. C. albicans senses its environment by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation that can also modulate the activity of some antifungal drugs, including Hst 5. We found that phosphorylation of the MAPK Cek1, induced either by N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) or serum, or its constitutive activation by deletion of its phosphatase Cpp1 elevated the susceptibility of C. albicans cells to Hst 5. Cek1 phosphorylation but not hyphal formation was needed for increased Hst 5 sensitivity. Interference with the Cek1 pathway by deletion of its head sensor proteins, Msb2 and Sho1, or by addition of secreted aspartyl protease (SAP) cleavage inhibitors, such as pepstatin A, reduced Hst 5 susceptibility under Cek1-inducing conditions. Changes in fungal cell surface glycostructures also modulated Hst 5 sensitivity, and Cek1-inducing conditions resulted in a higher uptake rate of Hst 5. These results show that there is a consistent relationship between activation of Cek1 MAPK and increased Hst 5 susceptibility in C. albicans.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010766	Phosphorylation	The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety.	Phosphorylations
D002176	Candida albicans	A unicellular budding fungus which is the principal pathogenic species causing CANDIDIASIS (moniliasis).	Candida albicans var. stellatoidea,Candida stellatoidea,Dematium albicans,Monilia albicans,Myceloblastanon albicans,Mycotorula albicans,Parasaccharomyces albicans,Procandida albicans,Procandida stellatoidea,Saccharomyces albicans,Syringospora albicans
D005656	Fungal Proteins	Proteins found in any species of fungus.	Fungal Gene Products,Fungal Gene Proteins,Fungal Peptides,Gene Products, Fungal,Yeast Proteins,Gene Proteins, Fungal,Peptides, Fungal,Proteins, Fungal
D000935	Antifungal Agents	Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues.	Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics
D012463	Saliva	The clear, viscous fluid secreted by the SALIVARY GLANDS and mucous glands of the mouth. It contains MUCINS, water, organic salts, and ptylin.	Salivas
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D048052	Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3	A 44-kDa extracellular signal-regulated MAP kinase that may play a role the initiation and regulation of MEIOSIS; MITOSIS; and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells. It phosphorylates a number of TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS; and MICROTUBULE-ASSOCIATED PROTEINS.	Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1,ERK1 Kinase,MAPK3 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase,Meiosis-Activated Myelin Basic Protein Kinase p44(mpk),Microtubule-Associated Protein-2 Kinase,PSTkinase p44mpk,Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinase p44(mpk),p44 MAPK,Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase 1,Kinase, ERK1,Kinase, Microtubule-Associated Protein-2,MAPK3 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase,Microtubule Associated Protein 2 Kinase,Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase 3,p44mpk, PSTkinase
D054808	Histatins	A group of small, histidine-rich, cationic peptides in human SALIVA which are antibacterial and antifungal.	Histatin
D020928	Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases	A superfamily of PROTEIN SERINE-THREONINE KINASES that are activated by diverse stimuli via protein kinase cascades. They are the final components of the cascades, activated by phosphorylation by MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES, which in turn are activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES).	Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase,Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase,Kinase, Mitogen-Activated Protein,Kinases, Mitogen-Activated Protein,Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases,Protein Kinase, Mitogen-Activated,Protein Kinases, Mitogen-Activated