Effects of the myosin ATPase inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione-2-monoxime, on growth and dimorphic switches of Candida albicans

Dimorphic yeast Candida albicans reversibly switches between the form of yeast and hyphae depending on external conditions. We investigated possible roles of the myosin family in the growth and dimorphic switches of C. albicans with a general myosin ATPase inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione-2-monoxime (BDM). Transition to hyphae as well as proliferation by budding was completely inhibited by BDM at 16 mM. Presence of 16 mM BDM did not affect hyphae-to-bud transition but it blocked budding. The effects of BDM on yeast growth and dimorphic switches were reversible. More than 70% of the BDM-treated cells demonstrated defects in the amount and the polarized localization of F-actin as well as in the shape and migration of the nucleus, suggesting that myosin activities are needed in these cellular processes of C. albicans.