Coordinated regulation of pH alkalinization by two transcription factors promotes fungal commensalism and pathogenicity.

ABSTRACT: As a clinically relevant opportunistic human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans is able to rapidly sense and adapt to changing microenvironments within the host, a process that is essential for its successful invasion and survival. Although studies have shown that the transcription factor Stp2 is the master regulator of environmental alkalinization, accumulating evidence supports a clear involvement of other participants in this adaptation process. Here, following a large-scale genetic screen, we identify the transcription factor Dal81 as an uncharacterized positive regulator of pH alkalinization in C. albicans. Dal81 influences the protein levels of Stp2. A mutant lacking DAL81 also fails to alkalinize both in vitro and in the phagolysosome, and this defective phenotype is further enhanced

SUBMITTER: Huang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12373999 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature