Emerging role of lipids of Candida albicans, a pathogenic dimorphic yeast

Abstract

It is clear that C. albicans lipids have gained tremendous importance in recent years. In addition to being a barrier for entrance of various metabolites, it also provides the site of action for the synthesis of enzyme(s) involved in cell wall morphogenesis and antifungal action. While alterations in lipid composition during a yeast to mycelia transition have been observed, in most of the studies, lipid fluctuations reported could have been due to various environmental factors involved in the induction of morphogenesis [4,5]. A clear understanding of lipid biosynthesis and metabolic blocks due to antifungal action is likely to shed further light on selective interactions of antifungals. Despite the multifacet role of lipids in various functions of this pathogenic yeast, their exact involvement is poorly understood. The situation is little better with regard to ergosterol and its metabolism. Ergosterol is, indeed, important for anti-candidal activity and appears to be involved in the morphogenesis of C. albicans. The fluctuation in phospholipid composition have led to altered properties of plasma membrane namely, membrane fluidity, transport activities and drug sensitivity, which suggest that-a critical level of individual phospholipid is important for proper functioning of the plasma membrane. What the exact role is of individual phospholipid is far from clear. Many unanswered questions relating to the role of PI and sphingomyelin in signal transduction, involvement of phospholipases in the maintenance of phospholipid composition, and role of lipid transfer proteins in assembly and asymmetry of lipids are some aspects which merit further work.