Lysophosphatidylcholine derived from deer antler extract suppresses hyphaltransition in Candida albicans through MAP kinase pathway

A family of 2-lysophosphatidylcholines (lyso-PCs) was isolated from deer an tler extract, guided exclusively by hyphal transition inhibitory activity i n Candida albicans. Structural determination of the isolated lyso-PCs by sp ectroscopic methods, including infrared spectroscopy, H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), C-13 NMR, 2D correlation spectroscopy NMR, fast atom bomba rdment mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, confirmed that the n atural products were composed of at least four different lyso-PCs varying i n fatty acid moiety at the sn-l position of the glycerol backbone. The majo r lyso-PCs were confirmed as l-stearoyl-, l-oleoyl-, l-linoleoyl- and l-pal mitoyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphatcholines. Lyse-PC specifically suppresse d the morphogenic transition from yeast to hyphae in C. albicans, without a ffecting the growth of either yeast or hyphae. Lyse-PC exerted hyphal trans ition that suppressed activity in the broad spectrum of the Candida species , such as C. albicans, Candida krusei, Candida guilliermondii and Candida p arapsilosis. Northern analysis indicated that the suppression was mediated through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.