Killing of Candida albicans by human salivary histatin 5 is modulated, but not determined, by the potassium channel TOK1.

ABSTRACT: Salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5), a potent toxin for the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, induces noncytolytic efflux of cellular ATP, potassium, and magnesium in the absence of cytolysis, implicating these ion movements in the toxin's fungicidal activity. Hst 5 action on Candida resembles, in many respects, the action of the K1 killer toxin on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and in that system the yeast plasma membrane potassium channel, Tok1p, has recently been reported to be a primary target of toxin action. The question of whether the Candida homologue of Saccharomyces Tok1p might be a primary target of Hst 5 action has now been investigated by disruption of the C. albicans TOK1 gene. The resultant strains (TOK1/tok1) and (tok1/tok1) were compared with wild-type Candida (TOK1/TOK1) for rel

SUBMITTER: Baev D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC155775 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature