Influence of W-7, a calmodulin antagonist on phospholipid biosynthesis in Candida albicans.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the role of calmodulin in phospholipid biosynthesis in Candida albicans using W-7, a calmodulin antagonist. Cells were grown as shake cultures in the absence and presence of W-7 at different concentrations. Changes in cell mass, phospholipid content and incorporation of labelled precursor into phospholipid and activities of respective enzymes have been studied. Decreased incorporation of labelled acetate into total lipids and phospholipids was observed in the presence of 40 microm of W-7 which was not as a consequence of altered growth of Candida in the presence of calmodulin antagonist. Further, a significant decrease in the levels of calmodulin and CaM dependent protein kinase activity was observed in cells grown with different concentrations of W-7. This was accompanied by decreased/increased activity of phosphatidic acid phosphatase and phospholipase A, respectively in W-7 grown cells as compared to controls. These findings suggest definite involvement of calmodulin in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism in Candida albicans.