Transcription of the single actin gene of Candida albicans during the yeast-to-mycelium conversion

Abstract

The existence of a single actin gene in the Candida albicans genome was confirmed by Southern blot experiments. Northern blot analysis was used to examine actin gene transcription during the yeast-to-mycelium (Y-M) conversion of C. albicans. A threefold increase in actin transcription was detected during the first half hour of the Y-M conversion; maximum accumulation of actin mRNA was observed at 2 hr and then gradually declined. Actin mRNA accumulation from cells maintained as yeasts increased approximately 30% during the first half hour and then increased at a slower rate for the first hour when compared to that of the corresponding mycelial cells. In contrast to the decreasing accumulation of actin mRNA for mycelial cells at corresponding time points, actin mRNA accumulation from yeast cells is steadily increasing at 4 and 6 hr postconversion. No correlation between methylation status and gene expression was observed since methylated bases were detected in both yeast and mycelial DNA.