title: Chitin synthesis and fungal pathogenesis.
abstract: Chitin is an essential part of the carbohydrate skeleton of the fungal cell wall and is a molecule that is not represented in humans and other vertebrates. Complex regulatory mechanisms enable chitin to be positioned at specific sites throughout the cell cycle to maintain the overall strength of the wall and enable rapid, life-saving modifications to be made under cell wall stress conditions. Chitin has also recently emerged as a significant player in the activation and attenuation of immune responses to fungi and other chitin-containing parasites. This review summarises latest advances in the analysis of chitin synthesis regulation in the context of fungal pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Megan D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lenardon
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: Neil A R
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015195:Drug Design; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D047071:beta-Glucans; D002686:Chitin