The δ subunit of FF-ATP synthase is required for pathogenicity of Candida albicans.

Fungal infections, especially candidiasis and aspergillosis, claim a high fatality rate. Fungal cell growth and function requires ATP, which is synthesized mainly through oxidative phosphorylation, with the key enzyme being FF-ATP synthase. Here, we show that deletion of the Candida albicans gene encoding the δ subunit of the FF-ATP synthase (ATP16) abrogates lethal infection in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. The deletion does not substantially affect in vitro fungal growth or intracellular ATP concentrations, because the decrease in oxidative phosphorylation-derived ATP synthesis is compensated by enhanced glycolysis. However, the ATP16-deleted mutant displays decreased phosphofructokinase activity, leading to low fructose 1,6-bisphosphate levels, reduced activity of Ras1-dependent and -independent cAMP-PKA pathways, downregulation of virulence factors, and reduced pathogenicity. A structure-based virtual screening of small molecules leads to identification of a compound potentially targeting the δ subunit of fungal FF-ATP synthases. The compound induces in vitro phenotypes similar to those observed in the ATP16-deleted mutant, and protects mice from succumbing to invasive candidiasis. Our findings indicate that FF-ATP synthase δ subunit is required for C. albicans lethal infection and represents a potential therapeutic target.