[Cell biology of respiration-deficient mutants of Candida albicans].

Respiration-deficient (petite) mutation is caused by hereditary impairment in mitochondrial functions. Yeasts have been grouped into "petite-positive" and "petite-negative" yeasts. Candida albicans has been regarded as a member of the petite-negative yeasts in which the respiration deficiency cannot be easily induced. We have succeeded in inducing the petite mutation in C. albicans by culturing in the presence of a chemical mutagen, acriflavine, at an elevated temperature. In the present review, we describe the cell biology of C. albicans petite mutants on the basis of experiments performed by our research group: namely, on respiratory activity and cytochrome composition, fine structures of cells and mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA structure, pathogenicity, oxidative stress sensitivity, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the roles of ROS in antifungal actions. We discuss also the usefulness of petite mutants in Candida research.