The Paralogous Transcription Factors Stp1 and Stp2 of Candida albicans Have Distinct Functions in Nutrient Acquisition and Host Interaction

Abstract

Nutrient acquisition is a central challenge for all organisms. For the fungal pathogen Candida albicans , utilization of amino acids has been shown to be critical for survival, immune evasion, and escape, while the importance of catabolism of host-derived proteins and peptides in vivo is less well understood. Stp1 and Stp2 are paralogous transcription factors (TFs) regulated by the S sy1- P tr3- S sy5 (SPS) amino acid sensing system and have been proposed to have distinct, if uncertain, roles in protein and amino acid utilization.