Evidence that Ergosterol Biosynthesis Modulates Activity of the Pdr1 Transcription Factor in Candida glabrata
Open accessAbstract
A likely contributor to the increased incidence of non- albicans candidemias involving Candida glabrata is the ease with which this yeast acquires azole resistance, in large part due to induction of the ATP-binding cassette transporter-encoding gene CDR1 . Azole drugs lead to induction of Pdr1 transactivation, with a central model being that this factor binds these drugs directly. Here we provide evidence that Pdr1 is activated without azole drugs by the use of genetic means to inhibit expression of azole drug target-encoding gene ERG11 . These acute reductions in Erg11 levels lead to elevated Pdr1 activity even though no drug is present. A key transcriptional regulator of the ERG pathway, Upc2A, is shown to directly bind to the PDR1 and CDR1 promoters. We interpret these data as support for the view that Pdr1 function is responsive to ergosterol biosynthesis and suggest that this connection reveals the normal physiological circuitry in which Pdr1 participates.
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In Kluyveromyces lactis, KIUpc2, whose homolog activates Pdr1 in response to fluconazole in Candida glabrata, has been reported to be involved in the oxidative stress response.
“In Kluyveromyces lactis, KIUpc2, whose homolog activates Pdr1 in response to fluconazole in C. glabrata [46], has been reported to be involved in the oxidative stress response [47].”
From In Candida glabrata, ERMES Component GEM1 Controls Mitochondrial Morphology, mtROS, and Drug Efflux Pump Expression, Resulting in Azole Susceptibility (2023) · cites this paper as [46]
Upc2A in Candida glabrata directly binds to the promoter region of CDR1.
“Vu et al. demonstrated that the transcription factor Upc2A in Candida glabrata can directly bind to the promoter region of the CDR1 gene [18].”
From Disruption of the UPC2 Gene Enhances Fluconazole Antifungal Activity by Inhibiting HAC1 mRNA Splicing in Candida albicans (2026) · cites this paper as [18]
Upc2A also regulates CDR1 expression and extensive overlap exists between the regulatory networks mediated by Upc2A and Pdr1 in C. glabrata.
“Recently, it was demonstrated that the zinc cluster transcription factor Upc2A also regulates CDR1 expression and that extensive overlap exists between the regulatory networks mediated by Upc2A and Pdr1 in C. glabrata27,59.”
From Molecular mechanisms governing antifungal drug resistance (2023) · cites this paper as [59]
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“glabrata [46], has been reported to be involved in the oxidative stress response [47].”
BackgroundThe UPC2 Gene in Kluyveromyces lactis Stress Adaptation
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“Furthermore, Vu et al. demonstrated that the transcription factor Upc2A in Candida glabrata can directly bind to the promoter region of the CDR1 gene [18].”
- Authors
- Vu, B. G., Thomas, G. H., & Moye-Rowley, W. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Iowa (US)
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Venue
- mBio
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Published
- 2019-06-25
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- ISSN
- 2150-7511 (ISSN-L)
- 2161-2129
- PMC
- PMC6561024
- OpenAlex
- W2952191518
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- mBio (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- HHS | National Institutes of Health (GM49825)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Keywords
- ergosterol biosynthesis, ERG11, Candida glabrata, azole resistance, CDR1, ABC transporters, transcriptional regulation, drug target genes
- MeSH terms
- Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System, DNA-Binding Proteins, Ergosterol, Fungal Proteins, Transcription Factors, Trans-Activators, Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal, Candida glabrata, Biosynthetic Pathways
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