Evolution of pathogenicity and sexual reproduction in eight Candida genomes.
Candida species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infection worldwide. Here we report the genome sequences of six Candida species and compare these and related pathogens and non-pathogens. There are significant expansions of cell wall, secreted and transporter gene families in pathogenic species, suggesting adaptations associated with virulence. Large genomic tracts are homozygous in three diploid species, possibly resulting from recent recombination events. Surprisingly, key components of the mating and meiosis pathways are missing from several species. These include major differences at the mating-type loci (MTL); Lodderomyces elongisporus lacks MTL, and components of the a1/2 cell identity determinant were lost in other species, raising questions about how mating and cell types are controlled. Analysis of the CUG leucine-to-serine genetic-code change reveals that 99% of ancestral CUG codons were erased and new ones arose elsewhere. Lastly, we revise the Candida albicans gene catalogue, identifying many new genes.
Butler
Geraldine
G
UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. geraldine.butler@ucd.ie
Rasmussen
Matthew D
MD
Lin
Michael F
MF
Santos
Manuel A S
MA
Sakthikumar
Sharadha
S
Munro
Carol A
CA
Rheinbay
Esther
E
Grabherr
Manfred
M
Forche
Anja
A
Reedy
Jennifer L
JL
Agrafioti
Ino
I
Arnaud
Martha B
MB
Bates
Steven
S
Brown
Alistair J P
AJ
Brunke
Sascha
S
Costanzo
Maria C
MC
Fitzpatrick
David A
DA
de Groot
Piet W J
PW
Harris
David
D
Hoyer
Lois L
LL
Hube
Bernhard
B
Klis
Frans M
FM
Kodira
Chinnappa
C
Lennard
Nicola
N
Logue
Mary E
ME
Martin
Ronny
R
Neiman
Aaron M
AM
Nikolaou
Elissavet
E
Quail
Michael A
MA
Quinn
Janet
J
Santos
Maria C
MC
Schmitzberger
Florian F
FF
Sherlock
Gavin
G
Shah
Prachi
P
Silverstein
Kevin A T
KA
Skrzypek
Marek S
MS
Soll
David
D
Staggs
Rodney
R
Stansfield
Ian
I
Stumpf
Michael P H
MP
Sudbery
Peter E
PE
Srikantha
Thyagarajan
T
Zeng
Qiandong
Q
Berman
Judith
J
Berriman
Matthew
M
Heitman
Joseph
J
Gow
Neil A R
NA
Lorenz
Michael C
MC
Birren
Bruce W
BW
Kellis
Manolis
M
Cuomo
Christina A
CA
D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004171:Diploidy; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D016681:Genome, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D003062:Codon