The Functions of Mediator in Candida albicans Support a Role in Shaping Species-Specific Gene Expression
Figure 3
Med31 is required for cytokinesis and filamentous growth of C. albicans.
A) Cultures of wild type C. albicans, the med31ΔΔ mutant and the complemented med31ΔΔ+MED31 strain were grown to log phase and cells were observed by microscopy using DIC for bright field (left panel) or through the DAPI filter for calcofluor white staining (right panel). Strains lacking Med31 display a cell separation defect, forming cell chains with the cells attached at the mother-daughter junction, as judged by staining with calcofluor white. B) To determine the proportion of cell chains at least 200 cells were counted for each of the strains. Cell counts were performed after a brief 1 s sonication to disperse cell aggregates. Shown are averages of three independent experiments and the standard error. C) Wild type or mutant strains were streaked on plates containing filamentation-inducing media and incubated at 37°C for 4–5 days. The colonies were photographed using a stereo dissecting microscope. The med31ΔΔ mutant was unable to undergo filamentous differentiation on plates in all media tested. The mutant was also compromised for filamentation in liquid media (data shown in Figure S5).