(a) Amino acid sequence of Ece1p and a schematic of the protein, indicating the signal peptide (SP), lysine-arginine motifs (KR) at the C-terminus of each peptide, and the processed peptides (Ece1-I-VIII) produced by Kex2p cleavage. (b) Amino acid sequences of the processed peptides (Ece1-I-VIII) produced by Kex2p cleavage. Induction of (c) GM-CSF, (d) IL-1α and (e) IL-6 secreted after stimulation of TR146 epithelial cells for 24 h with varying concentrations of Ece1-III62–93 (70 µM - 1.5 µM). (f) Phosphorylation of MKP-1 and c-Fos production after 2 h treatment of TR146 epithelial cells with 15 µM of Ece1-III62–85 (hydrophobic region), Ece1-III86–93 (hydrophillic region), Ece1-III62–85 and Ece1-III86–93 together, or Ece1-III62–93 alone. (g) Induction of G-CSF secretion after 24 h treatment of TR146 epithelial cells with 15 µM of Ece1-III62–85, Ece1-III86–93, Ece1-III62–85 and Ece1-III86–93 together, or Ece1-III62–93 alone. (h) Fold change induction of LDH release after 24 h treatment of TR146 epithelial cells with 70 µM of Ece1-III62–85, Ece1-III86–93, Ece1-III62–85 and Ece1-III86–93 together, or Ece1-III62–93 alone. (i) Induction of p-MKP-1 and c-Fos 2 h post-infection (p.i.) with the indicated C. albicans strains (MOI = 10). (j) c-Fos DNA binding induction 3 h p.i. with indicated C. albicans strains (MOI = 10). (k) G-CSF secretion and (l) LDH release 24 h p.i. with indicated C. albicans strains (MOI = 0.01). Data shown are representative (f, i) or the mean (c-e, g-h, j-l) of three biological replicates. Error bars show ± SEM. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (c-e, g-h,k-l) or T test (j). * = P < 0.05, ** = P < 0.01, *** = P < 0.001 (compared with vehicle control). For gel source data, see .