Candida albicans Mds3p, a conserved regulator of pH responses and virulence identified through insertional mutagenesis.

Davis, Dana A.; Bruno, Vincent M.; Loza, Lucio; Filler, Scott G.; Mitchell, Aaron P.

Develops a strategy that yields random homozygous insertion mutants. The strategy has permitted identification of several prospective essential genes. Many of these genes are homologous to nonessential Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes, and some have no S. cerevisiae homolog. These findings may expand the range of antifungal drug targets. They have also identified new genes required for pH-dependent filamentation, a trait previously associated with virulence. One newly identified gene, MDS3, is required for expression in alkaline media of two filamentation-associated genes, HWP1 and ECE1, but is not required for expression of other pH-response genes. In S. cerevisiae, the two MDS3 homologs are required for growth in alkaline media, thus arguing that Mds3p function in adaptation to external pH changes is conserved. Epistasis tests show that Mds3p contributes to virulence and alkaline pH responses independently of the well-characterized Rim101p pH-response pathway.

GENES; FUNGI; CANDIDA albicans; GENETICS; GENETIC mutation

Genetics, 2002, Vol 162, Issue 4, p1573

0016-6731

Academic Journal

10.1093/genetics/162.4.1573