Beyond ergosterol: linking pH to antifungal mechanisms

Virulence. 2010 Nov-Dec;1(6):551-4. doi: 10.4161/viru.1.6.13802. Epub 2010 Nov 1.

Abstract

Many antifungal drugs including the highly successful azoles target the fungal-specific sterol, ergosterol, yet the molecular identity of cellular pathways mediating antifungal activity remained obscure. A recent study on the requirement of ergosterol in vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) function uncovered a critical role for ion homeostasis downstream of azole inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. Here we review the functional link between regulation of V-ATPase by fungal membrane lipid components and discuss contributions of V-ATPase function to pathogenicity. The importance of pH homeostasis in virulence highlights its potential as target in antifungal chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azoles / metabolism
  • Azoles / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / growth & development
  • Candida albicans / metabolism
  • Candida albicans / pathogenicity*
  • Ergosterol / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism*
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Azoles
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Virulence Factors
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
  • Ergosterol