The requirements for bicarbonate and metabolism of the inducer during germ tube formation by Candida albicans

Abstract

Factors affecting germ tube formation in Candida albicans at suboptimal temperatures were investigated. Candida albicans formed germ tubes between 22 and 30 °C in solution when incubated without shaking, in the presence of bicarbonate (2 mg mL−1). Other conditions depended on the inducer used. Proline could induce germ tube formation optimally only when its concentration was between 200 and 400 mM. A concentration of 0.05 mM N-acetylglucosamine was sufficient to induce germ tube formation. N-Acetylglucosamine could induce germ tube formation at 30 but not at 25 °C. N-Acetylglucosamine induced germ tube formation was most reproducible when the cells were first starved by incubation in water for 16–24 h at 20 °C. Germ tubes induced by proline could be formed at pH values between 3.8 and 9.0 at 30 °C, but only between 7.0 and 7.5 at 25 °C. The addition of 0.05 to 5 mM glucose to a 5 mM proline induction solution allowed germ tube formation at 30 but not at 25 °C. Glucose (400 mM) did not suppress germ tube formation at 30 °C but only 5 mM was sufficient to cause a 65% suppression at 25 °C. The results show the importance of CO2 and (or) bicarbonate to the induction of germ tube formation and are consistent with the metabolism of the inducer.