Hwp1
Protein found on the surface of Candida albicans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hwp1 (Hyphal wall protein 1) is a protein (glycoprotein) located on the surface of an opportunistic diploid fungus called Candida albicans.
| Hyphal wall protein 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | |||||||
| Organism | |||||||
| Symbol | Hwp1 | ||||||
| UniProt | C4YHA6 | ||||||
| |||||||
| Hyphal wall protein 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | |||||||
| Organism | |||||||
| Symbol | Hwp1 | ||||||
| UniProt | P46593 | ||||||
| |||||||
This "hyphal" denomination is due to Hwp1 appearing exclusively on the surface of a projection called hyphae that emerges from the surface of this fungus.
Candida Albicans Yeast forms (round-to-oval)
Candida Albicans Hyphal forms (filamentous projections called hyphaes emerging from round-to-oval forms)
Hwp1 is particularly important because it is a substrate of mammalian transglutaminase.[1]
This transglutaminase ability has two implications, one (in fungus pathogenicity) proved, and the other (in food proteins potential pathogenicity) hypothetical.
Fungus pathogenicity
Hwp1 has been proven to be involved in oral candidiasis. Candida albicans Hwp1 allows through the use of transglutaminase from the host (human beings, for example) to adhere to human epithelial cells with the strength of a covalent, isopeptide bond (the same strength in which human body proteins are built). This ability is highly related to Candida albicans being the prevalent Candida species in all types of candidiasis. Other candida species don't have the Hwp1 protein.
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