Dimorphism-associated changes in amino acid transport of Candida albicans

Abstract Amino acid uptake was followed during pH-regulated dimorphism of Candida albicans . It was observed that transport activities of various amino acids differed with the morphological phenotype. The uptake rates of l-alanine , l -phenylalanine and of l -lysine were lower and those of l -methionine were higher in elongated hypha (germ tube), while the rates of glycine, l -glutamic acid and l -proline were similar in bud and hyphal phenotypes. Minimum threshold of amino acids transport activity is required at the time of phenotypic commitment in a diverging population of Candida albicans .