Role of N-Acetylglucosamine in Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions- regulated Fila- mentous Growth and Protein Glycosylation in C. albicans

Glucose or N-Acetylglucosamine induce similar filamentous growth and a specific calcium and magnesium-dependent intracellular glycoprotein pattern in C. albicans at 37 C in vitro. Both filament growth and its associated glycoprotein pattern are inhibited by calcium ions. The above inhibition can be reversed by magnesium ions, though only in N-Acetylglucosamine- but not in glucose-treated cells. Our data show that in contrast to glucose, N-Acetylglucosamine more than being only a carbon source, it is a key factor for filamentous growth and intracellu- lar protein glycosylation to occur, and thus, it may effect the interaction of C. albicans with its host in a calcium- and magnesium-dependent manner.