Role of N-Acetylglucosamine in Ca2+ and Mg2+ Ions Regulated Filamentous Growth and Protein Glycosylation in C. albicans.

Glucose or n-acetylglucosamine induce similar filamentous growth and a specific calcium and magnesium-dependent intracellular glycoprotein pattern in c. albicans at 37 °c in vitro. both filament growth and its associated glycoprotein pattern are inhibited by calcium ions. the above inhibition can be reversed by magnesium ions, though only in n-acetylglucosamine- but not in glucose-treated cells. our data show that in contrast to glucose, n-acetylglucosamine more than being only a carbon source, it is a key factor for filamentous growth and intracellular protein glycosylation to occur, and thus, it may effect the interaction of c. albicans with its host in a calcium- and magnesium-dependent manner.