Farnesol, a Morphogenetic Autoregulatory Substance in the Dimorphic Fungus Candida albicans, Inhibits Hyphae Growth through Suppression of a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade

Abstract

Candida albicans grew in hyphal form in RPMI1640, however, addition of farnesol inhibited the formation. Farnesol did not affect the expression of mRNAs related to cAMP-EFG1 pathways. The mRNAs (HST7 and CPH1) in mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP) cascades were decreased in farnesol-treated cells, but CST20 was not. Furthermore, expression of general amino acid permease 1 (GAP1) was decreased by farnesol. We concluded that farnesol inhibits a MAP kinase cascades, and the suppression is a cause of interruption of hyphae formation.