Farnesol-induced apoptosis in Aspergillus nidulans reveals a possible mechanism for antagonistic interactions between fungi

Camile P. Semighini, Jacob M. Hornby, Raluca Dumitru, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Steven D. Harris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

201 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans secretes farnesol, which acts as a quorum-sensing molecule and prevents the yeast to mycelium conversion. In this study we examined the effect of farnesol in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We show that externally added farnesol has no effect on hyphal morphogenesis; instead, it triggers morphological features characteristic of apoptosis. Additional experiments suggest that mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in farnesol-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the effects of farnesol appear to be mediated by the FadA heterotrimeric G protein complex. Because A. nidulans does not secrete detectable amounts of farnesol, we propose that it responds to farnesol produced by other fungi. In agreement with this notion, growth and development were impaired in a farnesol-dependent manner when A. nidulans was co-cultivated with C. albicans. Taken together, our data suggest that farnesol, in addition to its quorum-sensing function that regulates morphogenesis, is also employed by C. albicansTo reduce competition from other microbes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)753-764
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular Microbiology
Volume59
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

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