The type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases are involved in the regulation of cell wall integrity and oxidative stress response in Candida albicans

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Apr 18;446(4):1073-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.03.059. Epub 2014 Mar 21.

Abstract

The type II Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) are thought to play a vital role in cellular regulation in mammalian cells. Two genes CMK1 and CMK2 in the Candida albicans genome encode homologues of mammalian CaMKs. In this work, we constructed the cmk1Δ/Δ, the cmk2Δ/Δ and the cmk1Δ/Δcmk2Δ/Δ mutants and found that CaMKs function in cell wall integrity (CWI) and cellular redox regulation. Loss of either CMK1 or CMK2, or both resulted in increased expression of CWI-related genes under Calcofluor white (CFW) treatment. Besides, CaMKs are essential for the maintenance of cellular redox balance. Disruption of either CMK1 or CMK2, or both not only led to a significant increase of intracellular ROS levels, but also led to a decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), suggesting the important roles that CaMKs play in the maintenance of the mitochondrial function.

Keywords: CWI; CaMKs; Candida albicans; Oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Candida albicans / genetics
  • Candida albicans / physiology*
  • Candida albicans / ultrastructure
  • Cell Wall / genetics
  • Cell Wall / physiology*
  • Cell Wall / ultrastructure
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
  • Oxidative Stress

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2