Wor1 establishes opaque cell fate through inhibition of the general co-repressor Tup1 in Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans can undergo phenotypic switching between two heritable states: white and opaque. This phenotypic plasticity facilitates its colonization in distinct host niches. The master regulator WOR1 is exclusively expressed in opaque phase cells. Positive feedback regulation by Wor1 on the WOR1 promoter is essential for opaque formation, however the underlying mechanism of how Wor1 functions is not clear. Here, we use tandem affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry to identify Wor1-interacting proteins. Tup1 and its associated complex proteins are found as the major factors associated with Wor1. Tup1 occupies the same regions of the WOR1 promoter as Wor1 preferentially in opaque cells. Loss of Tup1 is sufficient to induce the opaque phase, even in th

SUBMITTER: Alkafeef SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786334 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature