Role of Candida albicans Tem1 in mitotic exit and cytokinesis.

Candida albicans demonstrates three main growth morphologies: yeast, pseudohyphal and true hyphal forms. Cell separation is distinct in these morphological forms and the process of separation is closely linked to the completion of mitosis and cytokinesis. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the small GTPase Tem1 is known to initiate the mitotic exit network, a signalling pathway involved in signalling the end of mitosis and initiating cytokinesis and cell separation.

Role of the Candida albicans MNN1 gene family in cell wall structure and virulence.

Background: The Candida albicans cell wall is the first point of contact with the host, and its outer surface is heavily enriched in mannoproteins modified through the addition of N- and O-mannan. Previous work, using mutants with gross defects in glycosylation, has clearly identified the importance of mannan in the host-pathogen interaction, immune recognition and virulence. Here we report the first analysis of the MNN1 gene family, which contains six members predicted to act as α-1,3 mannosyltransferases in the terminal stages of glycosylation.

Cassettes for PCR-mediated gene tagging in Candida albicans utilizing nourseothricin resistance.

In recent years a number of molecular tools have been reported for use in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, including PCR-mediated approaches for gene disruption, conditional expression and epitope tagging. Traditionally these methods have utilized auxotrophic markers; however, the availability of auxotrophic markers can be limiting and in some instances their use may also impact on the interpretation of results. As a result, the use of positive selection markers has now become more commonplace.

MAPKKK-independent regulation of the Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase in Candida albicans.

The Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase regulates both stress responses and morphogenesis in Candida albicans and is essential for the virulence of this major human pathogen. Stress-induced Hog1 phosphorylation is regulated by the upstream MAPKK, Pbs2, which in turn is regulated by the MAPKKK, Ssk2. Here, we have investigated the role of phosphorylation of Hog1 and Pbs2 in Hog1-mediated processes in C.

Two-component mediated peroxide sensing and signal transduction in fission yeast.

Two-component related proteins play a major role in regulating the oxidative stress response in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. For example, the peroxide-sensing Mak2 and Mak3 histidine kinases regulate H(2)O(2)-induced activation of the Sty1 stress-activated protein kinase pathway, and the Skn7-related response regulator transcription factor, Prr1, is essential for activation of the core oxidative stress response genes. Here, we investigate the mechanism by which the S.

A single MAPKKK regulates the Hog1 MAPK pathway in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans.

The Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays a central role in stress responses in the human pathogen Candida albicans. Here, we have investigated the MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK)-dependent regulation of the pathway. In contrast to the Hog1 pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is regulated by three MAPKKKs (Ssk2, Ssk22, and Ste11), our results demonstrate that Hog1 in C.