phenotypic switching

Phenotypic switching is switching between multiple cellular morphologies. David R. Soll described two such systems: the first high frequency switching system between several morphological stages and a second high frequency switching system between opaque and white cells. The latter is an epigenetic switching system{{cite journal|doi=10.1073/pnas.0605138103|title=Epigenetic properties of white-opaque switching in Candida albicans are based on a self-sustaining transcriptional feedback loop|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=103|issue=34|pages=12807–12812|year=2006|last1=Zordan|first1=R. E.|last2=Galgoczy|first2=D. J.|last3=Johnson|first3=A. D.|pmc=1535343|pmid=16899543|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal

| pmid = 3901258

| year = 1985

| last1 = Slutsky

| first1 = B

| title = High-frequency switching of colony morphology in Candida albicans

| journal = Science

| volume = 230

| issue = 4726

| pages = 666–9

| last2 = Buffo

| first2 = J

| last3 = Soll

| first3 = D. R.

| doi=10.1126/science.3901258

| bibcode = 1985Sci...230..666S

}}

Phenotypic switching in Candida albicans is often used to refer to the epigenetic white-to-opaque switching system. C. albicans needs this switch for sexual mating.{{cite journal |vauthors=Rikkerrink E, Magee B, Magee P |title=Opaque-white phenotype transition: a programmed morphological transition in Candida albicans |journal=J. Bacteriol. |volume=170 |issue=2 |pages=895–899 |year=1988 |pmid=2828333 |pmc=210739 |doi=10.1128/jb.170.2.895-899.1988}}

Next to the two above mentioned switching systems many other switching systems are known in C. albicans.{{cite journal |vauthors=Soll DR |title=The role of phenotypic switching in the basic biology and pathogenesis of Candida albicans |journal=J Oral Microbiol |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=895–9 |year=2014 |pmid=24455104 |pmc=3895265 |doi=10.3402/jom.v6.22993}}

A second example occurs in melanoma, where malignantly transformed pigment cells switch back-and-forth between phenotypes of proliferation and invasion in response to changing microenvironments, driving metastatic progression.{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoek KS, Eichhoff OM, Schlegel NC, Dobbeling U, Kobert N, Schaerer L, Hemmi S, Dummer R |title=In vivo switching of human melanoma cells between proliferative and invasive states |journal=Cancer Res. |volume=68 |issue=3 |pages=650–6 |year=2008 |pmid=18245463 |doi=10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-2491|url=http://www.zora.uzh.ch/13926/1/Hoek_2007_CC.pdf |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoek KS, Goding CR |title=Cancer stem cells versus phenotype-switching in melanoma |journal=Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. |volume=23 |issue=6 |pages=746–59 |year=2010 |pmid=20726948 |doi=10.1111/j.1755-148X.2010.00757.x|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Saez-Ayala M, Montenegro MF, Sanchez-del-Campo L, Fernandez-Perez MP, Chazarra S, Freter R, Middleton M, Pinero-Madrona A, Cabezas-Herrera J, Goding CR, Rodriguez-Lopez JN |title=Directed phenotype switching as an effective antimelanoma strategy |journal=Cancer Cell |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=105–19 |year=2013 |pmid=23792190 |doi=10.1016/j.ccr.2013.05.009|doi-access=free }}