Figure 7.

Transcript levels of ACC1, ERG20 and HMGR genes in wild-type and mutant C. albicans strains. C albicans was grown in normal medium (Met/Cys (−)) or under conditions repressing the MET3 promoter (Met/Cys (+)). mRNA levels of genes of interest were determined by RT-qPCR relative to ACT1 mRNA. Additionally, we considered a wholly different mode of down-regulation of dolichol biosynthesis—by depletion of its precursor, acetyl-CoA. Following this reasoning, we determined the expression of the ACC1 gene encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase, the first and limiting enzyme of the fatty acid synthesis/elongation pathways [8]; its increased activity would enhance consumption of acetyl-CoA, thereby limiting its availability for the mevalonate pathway and further for the synthesis of polyprenoids. Data are mean ± SD from three independent experiments, each determined in triplicate.