Characterization of glycolytic metabolism and ion transport of Candida albicans.

The main energetic pathways, fermentation and respiration, and the general ion transport properties of Candida albicans were studied. Compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we found that in C. albicans: (a) the cell mass yield when grown in YPD was significantly larger; (b) it required longer times to be starved of endogenous substrates; (c) ethanol production was lower but significant; (d) respiration was also lower; (e) it showed a small activity of an alternative oxidase; (f) fermentation and oxidative phosphorylation seemed to compete for both ADP and NADH; and (g) NADH levels were lower. Regarding ion transport and compared to S. cerevisiae: (a) the general mechanism was similar, with a plasma membrane H(+) -ATPase that generates both a plasma membrane ΔpH and a ΔΨ, the latter being responsible for driving K(+) inside; (b) its acidification capacity is slightly smaller and less sensitive to activation by high pH; and (c) the presence of K(+) results in a large activation of both respiration and fermentation, most probably due to the energy required in the process. ADP produced by H(+) -ATPase stimulation by high pH or the addition of K(+) at low pH results in the increase of both respiration and fermentation.