The ‘obligate diploid’ Candida albicans forms mating-competent haploids

Meleah A. Hickman, Guisheng Zeng, Anja Forche, Matthew P. Hirakawa, Darren Abbey, Benjamin D. Harrison, Yan-Ming Wang, Ching-hua Su, Richard J. Bennett, Yue Wang and Judith Berman ()
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Meleah A. Hickman: Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota
Guisheng Zeng: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore
Anja Forche: Bowdoin College
Matthew P. Hirakawa: Brown University
Darren Abbey: Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota
Benjamin D. Harrison: Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota
Yan-Ming Wang: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore
Ching-hua Su: Taipei Medical University
Richard J. Bennett: Brown University
Yue Wang: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore
Judith Berman: Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota

Nature, 2013, vol. 494, issue 7435, 55-59

Abstract: Abstract Candida albicans, the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, is considered to be an obligate diploid that carries recessive lethal mutations throughout the genome. Here we demonstrate that C. albicans has a viable haploid state that can be derived from diploid cells under in vitro and in vivo conditions, and that seems to arise through a concerted chromosome loss mechanism. Haploids undergo morphogenetic changes like those of diploids, including the yeast–hyphal transition, chlamydospore formation and a white-opaque switch that facilitates mating. Haploid opaque cells of opposite mating type mate efficiently to regenerate the diploid form, restoring heterozygosity and fitness. Homozygous diploids arise spontaneously by auto-diploidization, and both haploids and auto-diploids show a similar reduction in fitness, in vitro and in vivo, relative to heterozygous diploids, indicating that homozygous cell types are transient in mixed populations. Finally, we constructed stable haploid strains with multiple auxotrophies that will facilitate molecular and genetic analyses of this important pathogen.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/nature11865

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