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Hac1-independent functions of Ire1 drive morphogenesis in Candida albicans through distinct transcriptional programs

ABSTRACT: The pathogenic yeast Candida albicans relies on morphogenesis—the transition from spherical yeast to filamentous hyphal forms—for infection. While morphogenesis requires Ire1, a transmembrane protein that canonically initiates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) through HAC1 mRNA splicing, the specific mechanisms linking Ire1 to filamentation remain unclear. Using transcriptome analysis, we found that the Ire1-dependent transcriptional response driving morphogenesis is fundamentally distinct from the canonical UPR response to proteotoxic stress, with minimal overlap between programs. Morphogenesis is associated with only limited HAC1 splicing compared to robust splicing during proteotoxic stress, and HAC1 deletion only partially impairs filamentation, unlike the near-complete loss observed with IRE1 deletion. These findings establish that Ire1 regulates hyphal development through previously uncharacterized HAC1-independent pathways. We identify cell wall integrity as a key HAC1-independent mechanism, with Ire1—but not Hac1—essential for cell wall stress tolerance and upregulation of cell wall biosynthesis genes during filamentation. Our data also reveal Ire1-dependent decreases in transcripts encoding secretory proteins during both proteotoxic stress and morphogenesis, consistent with a possible role for Ire1-mediated mRNA degradation in these processes. Given Ire1’s essential role in pathogenesis and extensive development of Ire1-targeting compounds for mammalian systems, our findings position Ire1 as a highly promising druggable target for novel antifungal therapeutics and development of fungal-specific inhibitors.

ORGANISM(S): Candida albicans

PROVIDER: GSE308581 | GEO | 2025/11/13

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The ARV1-encoded protein mediates sterol transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane. Yeast ARV1 mutants accumulate multiple lipids in the ER and are sensitive to pharmacological modulators of both sterol and sphingolipid metabolism. Using fluorescent and electron microscopy, we demonstrate sterol accumulation, subcellular membrane expansion, elevated lipid droplet formation and vacuolar fragmentation in ARV1 mutants. Motif-based regression analysis of ARV1 deletion transcription profiles indicates activation of Hac1p, an integral component of the UPR. Accordingly, we show constitutive splicing of HAC1 transcripts, induction of a UPR reporter and elevated expression of UPR targets in ARV1 mutants. IRE1, encoding the unfolded protein sensor in the ER lumen, exhibits a lethal genetic interaction with ARV1, indicating a viability requirement for the UPR in cells lacking ARV1. Surprisingly, ARV1 mutants expressing a variant of Ire1p defective in sensing unfolded proteins are viable. Moreover these strains also exhibit constitutive HAC1 splicing that interacts with DTT-mediated perturbation of protein folding. These data suggest a component of UPR induction in arv1? strains is distinct from protein misfolding. Decreased ARV1 expression in murine macrophages also results in UPR induction, particularly up-regulation of activating transcription factor-4, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and apoptosis. Cholesterol loading or inhibition of cholesterol esterification further elevated CHOP expression in ARV1 knockdown cells. Thus, loss or down-regulation of ARV1 disturbs membrane and lipid homeostasis resulting in a disruption of ER integrity, one consequence of which is induction of the UPR. Yeast strains were grown to mid-logarithmic stage (A600=0.5-0.6) for RNA extraction and hybridization on Ye6100 or S98 Affymetrix gene chips. The control array (sample name C) was carried out in duplicate. The ARV1 mutant array (sample name A) was carried out in triplicate. Both ARV1 mutants Ye6100 arrays were compared to the same control Ye6100 array. Strains represent different isolates of the same genotype, mating type and genetic background (w303). Sturley lab collection (SCY) strains include SCY328 and SCY2004 for controls and SCY820 and SCY840 for ARV1 mutants.

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Hac1-independent functions of Ire1 drive morphogenesis in Candida albicans through distinct transcriptional programs

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