Dimorphism-associated changes in amino acid transport of Candida albicans

Abstract

Amino acid uptake was followed during pH-regulated dimorphism of Candida albicans. It was observed that transport activities of various amino acids differed with the morphological phenotype. The uptake rates of L-alanine, L-phenylalanine and of L-lysine were lower and those of L-methionine were higher in elongated hypha (germ tube), while the rates of glycine, L-glutamic acid and L-proline were similar in bud and hyphal phenotypes. Minimum threshold of amino acids transport activity is required at the time of phenotypic commitment in a diverging population of Candida albicans.