Site-specific functions of the Efg1 regulator in Candida albicans

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Joachim F. Ernst
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 219641357

The Efg1 transcription factor is a major regulator of morphogenesis, metabolism and virulence of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The project aims at chromosomal Efg1 binding sites and respective target genes during the yeast-hyphal transition and during the shift from normoxic to hypoxic growth conditions. Efg1 binding kinetics and concomitant epigenetic alterations will be established using genome-wide tiling arrays in combination with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP chip). Selective fluorescent labelling of apical and basal compartments of hyphae will be used as a tool to establish Efg1-dependent transcriptional circuits in both types of cell. Furthermore, screening for yet undefined Efg1interactors will be performed using a novel yeast two-hybrid approach. Knowledge of Efg1 function is crucial to understand the pathogenic strategies of C. albicans and to develop interfering antifungal compounds.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants