title: [Effects of histidine kinase gene CHK1 on some biological characteristics of Candida albicans].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of histidine kinase gene CHK1 on some biological characteristics of Candida albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of gene mutation strains of Candida albicans such as CHK21, CHK25, CHK26 and CHK27 were observed on its reproductive ability, formation of chlamydospore and germ tube and tolerance of Congo red.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reproductive ability in CHK gene mutation strains CHK25, CHK26, CHK27, CHK21 was weaker than that of wild strains(6 h:1.36 ± 0.86,1.25 ± 0.84,1.05 ± 0.79,0.90 ± 0.74 vs 1.54 ± 0.89,P = 0.000).And CHK21 was the most obvious. The formation of germ tube in CHK gene mutation strains CHK21, CHK25, CHK26 and CHK27 was weaker than that of wild strains (2 h: 5.6% ± 2.0%,19.5% ± 6.9%,13.6% ± 4.8% vs 29.6% ± 10.5%,P = 0.023, 0.028, 0.029).Under no light, the mean number of chlamydospore in wild and CHK26 strains was 3 and 22 respectively. With light, the mean number was changed to 60 and 80. So the formation ability of chlamydospore in CHK26 was stronger than other strains. CHK21 could not produce chlamydospore under no light. The mutation strain of CHK1 was sensitive to Congo red.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHK1 affect the reproduction and formation of chlamydospore and hypha and the tolerance to some environmental pressures of Candida albicans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hui-chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1