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ePaper created 2013-09-24, 11:56:35 | version 1.25.20
81 m/z1000 1500 2000 2500 Dipl.-Biol. Silke Palzer Phone +49 711 970-4079 silke.palzer@igb.fraunhofer.de Dr. Kai Sohn Phone +49 711 970-4055 kai.sohn@igb.fraunhofer.de Funding We would like to thank the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg for a state graduate scholarship (Landesgraduiertenförderung) to fund the project “Erweiterung des genetischen Codes zur Analyse von Protein-Protein-Interak- tionen im humanpathogenen Pilz Candida albicans”. Successful position-specific incorporation into C. albicans virulence factors After extensive basic research at the Fraunhofer IGB, we were able to successfully apply the expanded genetic code meth- odology to the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. The necessary tRNA and tRNA synthetases were specifically modeled for the incorporation of artifical amino acids in C. al- bicans. Moreover, we were not only able to demonstrate the general applicability of the method with a model protein, but also with the central virulence factor Tup1 (Fig. 3). Therefore, the position-specific incorporation of an artificial amino acid into a eukaryotic pathogen has been achieved for the first time. Furthermore, we could for the first time characterize a physiological interaction of the virulence factor Tup1 by means of the synthetic label. The thus modified C. albicans strains can now be applied to extensive interaction studies, such as in virulence factors. The investigation of host-pathogen interac- tions is also possible. The system developed here is additionally suitable for protein- DNA or protein-metabolite interactions. After having demon- strated its general applicability, it is likewise conceivable to ex- pand the genetic code of Candida albicans with other artificial amino acids and thereby further extend the range of molecu- lar tools for the investigation of virulence mechanisms. 1 Hyphal morphology of Candida albicans. 2 The artificial amino acid p-azidophenylalanine. 3 Crystal structure of interacting Tup1 domains. 4 Identification of interacting proteins by mass spectrometry. 3 4 Contacts