Dynamic cytoplasmic fluidity during morphogenesis in a human fungal pathogen

Publication Type
Journal Article

Year of Publication

2024
Refereed Designation
Not refereed

Journal

bioRxiv

Volume

2024.11.16.623909

Date Published

11/2024

Abstract

The molecular crowding of the cytoplasm impacts a range of cellular processes. Using a fluorescent microrheological probe (GEMs), we observed a striking decrease in molecular crowding during the yeast to filamentous growth transition in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This decrease in crowding is due to a decrease in ribosome concentration that results in part from an inhibition of ribosome biogenesis, combined with an increase in cytoplasmic volume; leading to a dilution of the major cytoplasmic crowder. Moreover, our results suggest that inhibition of ribosome biogenesis is a trigger for C. albicans morphogenesis.