The Candida albicans KRE9 gene is required for cell wall beta-1, 6-glucan synthesis and is essential for growth on glucose.
We have isolated CaKRE9, a gene from Candida albicans, that is a functional homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae KRE9 gene involved in beta-1,6-glucan synthesis. Disruption of the CaKRE9 gene in C. albicans shows that CaKre9p is required for the synthesis or assembly of this fungal polymer. Homozygous null disruptants of CaKRE9 grow poorly on galactose and fail to form hyphae in serum, and, in growth medium containing glucose, the gene is essential. Thus, the CaKRE9 gene product is a potentially useful candidate as a target for fungal-specific drugs.
Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1.
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Shahinian
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005936:Glucans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D047071:beta-Glucans
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D006023:Glycoproteins; C083328:KRE9 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D047071:beta-Glucans; C064197:beta-1,6-glucan; D005947:Glucose