The quorum-sensing molecules farnesol/homoserine lactone and dodecanol operate via distinct modes of action in Candida albicans.

Living as a commensal, Candida albicans must adapt and respond to environmental cues generated by the mammalian host and by microbes comprising the natural flora. These signals have opposing effects on C. albicans, with host cues promoting the yeast-to-hyphal transition and bacteria-derived quorum-sensing molecules inhibiting hyphal development.

Cryptococcus neoformans senses CO2 through the carbonic anhydrase Can2 and the adenylyl cyclase Cac1.

Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen of humans, causes fatal meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Its virulence is mainly determined by the elaboration of a polysaccharide capsule surrounding its cell wall. During its life, C.

Fungal adenylyl cyclase integrates CO2 sensing with cAMP signaling and virulence.

The ascomycete Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in immunocompromised patients . Its ability to change morphology, from yeast to filamentous forms, in response to host environmental cues is important for virulence . Filamentation is mediated by second messengers such as cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) synthesized by adenylyl cyclase .

Autoinhibitory regulation of soluble adenylyl cyclase.

Soluble adenylyl cyclase is an evolutionarily conserved bicarbonate sensor that plays a crucial role in cAMP dependent processes that occur during mammalian fertilization. sAC protein is expressed at the highest levels in male germ cells, and is found to occur as one of two known isoforms: a truncated protein (sAC(t)) that consists almost exclusively of the two conserved catalytic domains (C1 and C2), and a full-length form (sAC(fl)) that contains an additional noncatalytic C-terminal region. Several studies suggested sAC(t) was more active than sAC(fl).