Yeast cell differentiation: Lessons from pathogenic and non-pathogenic yeasts

0466366 - MBÚ 2017 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Pálková, Z. - Váchová, Libuše
Yeast cell differentiation: Lessons from pathogenic and non-pathogenic yeasts.
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. Roč. 57, SEP (2016), s. 110-119. ISSN 1084-9521. E-ISSN 1096-3634
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA13-08605S; GA MŠMT(CZ) ED1.1.00/02.0109
Institutional support: RVO:61388971
Keywords : Pathogenic yeasts * Biofilms and colonies * Cell differentiation
Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology
Impact factor: 6.614, year: 2016

Yeasts, historically considered to be single-cell organisms, are able to activate different differentiation processes. Individual yeast cells can change their life-styles by processes of phenotypic switching such as the switch from yeast-shaped cells to filamentous cells (pseudohyphae or true hyphae) and the transition among opaque, white and gray cell-types. Yeasts can also create organized multicellular structures such as colonies and biofilms, and the latter are often observed as contaminants on surfaces in industry and medical care and are formed during infections of the human body. Multicellular structures are formed mostly of stationary-phase or slow-growing cells that diversify into specific cell subpopulations that have unique metabolic properties and can fulfill specific tasks. In addition to the development of multiple protective mechanisms, processes of metabolic reprogramming that reflect a changed environment help differentiated individual cells and/or community cell constituents to survive harmful environmental attacks and/or to escape the host immune system. This review aims to provide an overview of differentiation processes so far identified in individual yeast cells as well as in multicellular communities of yeast pathogens of the Candida and Cryptococcus spp. and the Candida albicans close relative, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Molecular mechanisms and extracellular signals potentially involved in differentiation processes are also briefly mentioned.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0265381