Role of Sth1, the ATPase subunit of RSC complex in yeast - hyphae transition in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

Abstract

The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans exists in different morphogenic forms. The forms differ in pathogenicity and are important virulent attributes of the fungi. The transition from one form to the other is regulated epigenetically. The histone modifiers, histone variants, and chromatin remodelers are important epigenetic determinants in Candida biology. Among these, the chromatin remodelers are the ATP-driven machineries that restructure the chromatin architecture. In this study, we analyzed the role of Sth1, the ATPase subunit of RSC chromatin remodeler in yeast-hyphae transition. We have shown that Sth1 is required for the peripheral filamentation over semi-solid spider media, while the sth1 mutant cells remain as efficient as wild type to form hyphae in liquid culture. We also found increased adherence of the sth1 mutant cells over semi-solid media suggesting a plausible role in biofilm formation.