Reduced susceptibility to polyenes associated with a missense mutation in the ERG6 gene in a clinical isolate of Candida glabrata with pseudohyphal growth

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 Mar;51(3):982-90. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01510-06. Epub 2006 Dec 11.

Abstract

Little information is available about the molecular mechanisms responsible for polyene resistance in pathogenic yeasts. A clinical isolate of Candida glabrata with a poor susceptibility to polyenes, as determined by disk diffusion method and confirmed by determination of MIC, was recovered from a patient treated with amphotericin B. Quantitative analysis of sterols revealed a lack of ergosterol and an accumulation of late sterol intermediates, suggesting a defect in the final steps of the ergosterol pathway. Sequencing of CgERG11, CgERG6, CgERG5, and CgERG4 genes revealed exclusively a unique missense mutation in CgERG6 leading to the substitution of a cysteine by a phenylalanine in the corresponding protein. In addition, real-time reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated an overexpression of genes encoding enzymes involved in late steps of the ergosterol pathway. Moreover, this isolate exhibited a pseudohyphal growth whatever the culture medium used, and ultrastructural changes of the cell wall of blastoconidia were seen consisting in a thinner inner layer. Cell wall alterations were also suggested by the higher susceptibility of growing cells to Calcofluor white. Additionally, complementation of this isolate with a wild-type copy of the CgERG6 gene restored susceptibility to polyenes and a classical morphology. Together, these results demonstrated that mutation in the CgERG6 gene may lead to a reduced susceptibility to polyenes and to a pseudohyphal growth due to the subsequent changes in sterol content of the plasma membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida glabrata / drug effects*
  • Candida glabrata / genetics
  • Candida glabrata / growth & development
  • Candidiasis / microbiology*
  • DNA Primers
  • Genes, Fungal / genetics
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense / physiology*
  • Phenotype
  • Polyenes / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Fungal / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sterols / metabolism

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA Primers
  • Polyenes
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sterols
  • Methyltransferases
  • delta 24-sterol methyltransferase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY942647
  • GENBANK/AY942648
  • GENBANK/AY942649
  • GENBANK/AY942650
  • GENBANK/AY942651
  • GENBANK/AY942652
  • GENBANK/AY942653
  • GENBANK/DQ060157