Rapamycin and Torin2 inhibit Candida auris TOR: Insights through growth profiling, docking, and MD simulations

Abstract

The fungus Candida auris is a pathogen of utmost concern due to its rapid emergence across the globe, acquired antifungal drug tolerance, thermotolerance, and ability to survive in hospital settings and preserved foods. Recent incidences of comorbidity of corona patients with its infection in hospital settings highlighted the importance of understanding the pathobiology and drug tolerance of this fungus on priority. The Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator of growth across eukaryotes with an illustrated role in fungal pathology. The role of the TOR signalling pathway in the growth of C. auris is yet to be described. In-silico, analysis revealed the presence of highly conserved Tor kinase, components of TORC, and key downstream components in C. auris. Rapamycin and Torin2, the specific inhibitors of Tor reduce the growth of C. auris. An inhibition of Tor leads to cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase with a defect in cytokinesis. Interestingly, with an insignificant difference in growth at 30 and 37 °C, a sharp decline in growth is seen with Torin2 at 37 °C. The heterogeneous response emphasizes the importance of physiology-based differential cellular response at different temperatures. In addition, the inhibition of Tor suppresses the biofilm formation. In silico studies through docking and simulations showed rapamycin and torin2 as specific inhibitors of C. auris Tor kinase (CauTor kinase) and hence can be exploited for a thorough understanding of the TOR signalling pathway in pathobiology and drug tolerance of C. auris.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Conservation of TOR signalling pathway in Candida auris

2. Rapamycin and torin2 are specific inhibitors of Cau Tor

3. Understanding of the role of TOR signalling pathway through the use of inhibitors rapamycin and torin2.

4. Heterogenous response of C. auris to torin2 at different physiological conditions.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Candida auris
• TOR
• Rapamycin
• Torin 2
• TORC1
• TORC2
• Cytokinesis
• Modelling

Acknowledgment

We thank Prof. Neil A. R. Gow and Prof. Rajendra Prasad for providing Candida auris strain.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

RP thanks Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) DST for project funding (CRG/2021/003585). AT thanks Regional Centre for Biotechnology for Core funding.