A white-specific gene in the white-opaque switching system of Candida albicans

Abstract

The Candida albicans strain WO-1 cells switch spontaneously, frequently, and reversibly between white and opaque colony-forming units which differ dramatically in their budding phenotypes. By screening a subtracted white cDNA library, the first white-specific cDNA, cWh11, was isolated and sequenced. This, in turn, was used to clone the Wh11 gene. Wh11 shows significant homology to the glucose/lipid-regulated GLP1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Upon temperature-induced mass conversion from opaque to white colonies, transcription of Wh11 is abruptly activated at the second cell doubling, concomitant with commitment to the white phenotype. Wh11 exhibits the unique characteristics of being regulated not only by switching, but also by the bud-hypha transition.