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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Feb 4.
Published in final edited form as: J Proteome Res. 2010 Dec 6;10(2):646–655. doi: 10.1021/pr100861k

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Hypothetical model for the mode of action of histatin 5 against C. albicans. Histatin 5 enters the C.albicans cell, involving specific receptors and/or driven by the transmembrane potential. It targets the mitochondria, dissipates the mitochondrial membrane potential, causing mitochondrial swelling. The Krebs cycle is inhibited through down regulation of malate dehydrogenase and the loss of NAD(H) from swollen mitochondria. Histatin reduces the expression of a subunit of the F1F0-ATPase complex, leading to a decrease in ATP production, and ATP levels are further reduced by the apparent upregulation of the ATP-ADP transporter. Upregulation of elongation factor alpha furthermore reduces overall cell fitness. The final result is the release of ATP and other intracellular nucleotides and essential energy storage molecules from the cell and cellular demise.