cAMP levels and measurement of cAMP related enzymes during yeast-to-hyphae transition in

Abstract

Intracellular levels of cAMP and specific activities of adenylate cyclase, cAMP phosphodiesterase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase were measured during filamentation in the the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. Enzymatic assays were performed in permeabilized cells under conditions prevented endogenous proteolysis. The variations observed in cAMP levels were mainly accounted for by variations in the specific activities of adenylate cyclase and cAMP phosphodiesterase at different stages during germ tube formation. cAMP-dependent protein kinase, measured with kemptide as exogenous substrate, was developmental regulated. Some properties of the enzymatic activities from cell-free extracts are described.