Phenotypic switching in Candida albicans is controlled by a SIR2 gene.
We report the cloning of a gene from the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans with sequence and functional similarity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SIR2 gene. Deletion of the gene in C. albicans produces a dramatic phenotype: variant colony morphologies arise at frequencies as high as 1 in 10. The morphologies resemble those described previously as part of a phenotypic switching system proposed to contribute to pathogenesis. Deletion of SIR2 also produces a high frequency of karyotypic changes. These and other results are consistent with a model whereby Sir2 controls phenotypic switching and chromosome stability in C.albicans by organizing chromatin structure.
Pérez-Martín
J
J
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, USA.
Uría
J A
JA
Johnson
A D
AD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005812:Genes, Switch; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D007621:Karyotyping; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D038281:Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D056564:Sirtuin 1; D056565:Sirtuin 2; D037761:Sirtuins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C102110:Mal2 protein, S pombe; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D038281:Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D015534:Trans-Activators; C087778:SIR2 protein, S cerevisiae; C447939:SIRT1 protein, human; D056564:Sirtuin 1; D056565:Sirtuin 2; D037761:Sirtuins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases