Identification and characterization of MFA1, the gene encoding Candida albicans a-factor pheromone.
Eukaryot Cell
; 6(3): 487-94, 2007 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17209123
ABSTRACT
In the opaque state, MTLa and MTLalpha strains of Candida albicans are able to mate, and this mating is directed by a pheromone-mediated signaling process. We have used comparisons of genome sequences to identify a C. albicans gene encoding a candidate a-specific mating factor. This gene is conserved in Candida dubliniensis and is similar to a three-gene family in the related fungus Candida parapsilosis but has extremely limited similarity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MFA1 (ScMFA1) and ScMFA2 genes. All these genes encode C-terminal CAAX box motifs characteristic of prenylated proteins. The C. albicans gene, designated CaMFA1, is found on chromosome 2 between ORF19.2165 and ORF19.2219. MFA1 encodes an open reading frame of 42 amino acids that is predicted to be processed to a 14-amino-acid prenylated mature pheromone. Microarray analysis shows that MFA1 is poorly expressed in opaque MTLa cells but is induced when the cells are treated with alpha-factor. Disruption of this C. albicans gene blocks the mating of MTLa cells but not MTLalpha cells, while the reintegration of the gene suppresses this cell-type-specific mating defect.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Feromônios
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Precursores de Proteínas
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Candida albicans
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Regulação Fúngica da Expressão Gênica
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Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Genes Fúngicos Tipo Acasalamento
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Lipoproteínas
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article