Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 20 August 1999:
Vol. 285. no. 5431, pp. 1271 - 1275
DOI: 10.1126/science.285.5431.1271
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Identification of a Mating Type-Like Locus in the Asexual Pathogenic Yeast Candida albicans

Christina M. Hull, Alexander D. Johnson *

Candida albicans, the most prevalent fungal pathogen in humans, is thought to lack a sexual cycle. A set of C. albicans genes has been identified that corresponds to the master sexual cycle regulators a1, alpha 1, and alpha 2 of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating-type (MAT) locus. The C. albicans genes are arranged in a way that suggests that these genes are part of a mating type-like locus that is similar to the mating-type loci of other fungi. In addition to the transcriptional regulators a1, alpha 1, and alpha 2, the C. albicans mating type-like locus contains several genes not seen in other fungal MAT loci, including those encoding proteins similar to poly(A) polymerases, oxysterol binding proteins, and phosphatidylinositol kinases.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ajohnson{at}socrates.ucsf.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Aneuploid Chromosomes Are Highly Unstable during DNA Transformation of Candida albicans.
K. Bouchonville, A. Forche, K. E. S. Tang, A. Selmecki, and J. Berman (2009)
Eukaryot. Cell 8, 1554-1566
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Role of Ndt80p in Sterol Metabolism Regulation and Azole Resistance in Candida albicans.
A. Sellam, F. Tebbji, and A. Nantel (2009)
Eukaryot. Cell 8, 1174-1183
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rapid evolution of Cse4p-rich centromeric DNA sequences in closely related pathogenic yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis.
S. Padmanabhan, J. Thakur, R. Siddharthan, and K. Sanyal (2008)
PNAS 105, 19797-19802
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification and characterization of a Jem1p ortholog of Candida albicans: dissection of Jem1p functions in karyogamy and protein quality control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
T. Makio, S.-i. Nishikawa, T. Nakayama, H. Nagai, and T. Endo (2008)
Genes Cells 13, 1015-1026
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Microtubule Motor Protein Kar3 Is Required for Normal Mitotic Division and Morphogenesis in Candida albicans.
R. K. Sherwood and R. J. Bennett (2008)
Eukaryot. Cell 7, 1460-1474
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Heterotrimeric G-Protein Subunit Function in Candida albicans: both the {alpha} and {beta} Subunits of the Pheromone Response G Protein Are Required for Mating.
D. Dignard, D. Andre, and M. Whiteway (2008)
Eukaryot. Cell 7, 1591-1599
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Dandruff-associated Malassezia genomes reveal convergent and divergent virulence traits shared with plant and human fungal pathogens.
J. Xu, C. W. Saunders, P. Hu, R. A. Grant, T. Boekhout, E. E. Kuramae, J. W. Kronstad, Y. M. DeAngelis, N. L. Reeder, K. R. Johnstone, et al. (2007)
PNAS 104, 18730-18735
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Molecular Phylogenetics of Candida albicans.
F. C. Odds, M.-E. Bougnoux, D. J. Shaw, J. M. Bain, A. D. Davidson, D. Diogo, M. D. Jacobsen, M. Lecomte, S.-Y. Li, A. Tavanti, et al. (2007)
Eukaryot. Cell 6, 1041-1052
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evolution of the Mating Type Locus: Insights Gained from the Dimorphic Primary Fungal Pathogens Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, and Coccidioides posadasii.
J. A. Fraser, J. E. Stajich, E. J. Tarcha, G. T. Cole, D. O. Inglis, A. Sil, and J. Heitman (2007)
Eukaryot. Cell 6, 622-629
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Computational and experimental approaches double the number of known introns in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans.
Q. M. Mitrovich, B. B. Tuch, C. Guthrie, and A. D. Johnson (2007)
Genome Res. 17, 492-502
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Formation of functional centromeric chromatin is specified epigenetically in Candida albicans.
M. Baum, K. Sanyal, P. K. Mishra, N. Thaler, and J. Carbon (2006)
PNAS 103, 14877-14882
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
TOS9 Regulates White-Opaque Switching in Candida albicans.
T. Srikantha, A. R. Borneman, K. J. Daniels, C. Pujol, W. Wu, M. R. Seringhaus, M. Gerstein, S. Yi, M. Snyder, and D. R. Soll (2006)
Eukaryot. Cell 5, 1674-1687
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Epigenetic properties of white-opaque switching in Candida albicans are based on a self-sustaining transcriptional feedback loop.
R. E. Zordan, D. J. Galgoczy, and A. D. Johnson (2006)
PNAS 103, 12807-12812
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Bistable expression of WOR1, a master regulator of white-opaque switching in Candida albicans.
G. Huang, H. Wang, S. Chou, X. Nie, J. Chen, and H. Liu (2006)
PNAS 103, 12813-12818
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Single gene control of a complex phenotype hangs in the balance.
C. M. Hull (2006)
PNAS 103, 12659-12660
   Full Text »    PDF »
Virulence and Karyotype Analyses of rad52 Mutants of Candida albicans: Regeneration of a Truncated Chromosome of a Reintegrant Strain (rad52/RAD52) in the Host.
N. Chauhan, T. Ciudad, A. Rodriguez-Alejandre, G. Larriba, R. Calderone, and E. Andaluz (2005)
Infect. Immun. 73, 8069-8078
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of Ploidy and Mating Type on Virulence of Candida albicans.
A. S. Ibrahim, B. B. Magee, D. C. Sheppard, M. Yang, S. Kauffman, J. Becker, J. E. Edwards Jr., and P. T. Magee (2005)
Infect. Immun. 73, 7366-7374
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Interaction Between Genetic Background and the Mating-Type Locus in Cryptococcus neoformans Virulence Potential.
K. Nielsen, R. E. Marra, F. Hagen, T. Boekhout, T. G. Mitchell, G. M. Cox, and J. Heitman (2005)
Genetics 171, 975-983
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Unique Aspects of Gene Expression during Candida albicans Mating and Possible G1 Dependency.
R. Zhao, K. J. Daniels, S. R. Lockhart, K. M. Yeater, L. L. Hoyer, and D. R. Soll (2005)
Eukaryot. Cell 4, 1175-1190
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Genome Sequence Survey Shows that the Pathogenic Yeast Candida parapsilosis Has a Defective MTLa1 Allele at Its Mating Type Locus.
M. E. Logue, S. Wong, K. H. Wolfe, and G. Butler (2005)
Eukaryot. Cell 4, 1009-1017
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Increased Virulence and Competitive Advantage of a/{alpha} Over a/a or {alpha}/{alpha} Offspring Conserves the Mating System of Candida albicans.
S. R. Lockhart, W. Wu, J. B. Radke, R. Zhao, and D. R. Soll (2005)
Genetics 169, 1883-1890
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Chromosome Loss Followed by Duplication Is the Major Mechanism of Spontaneous Mating-Type Locus Homozygosis in Candida albicans.
W. Wu, C. Pujol, S. R. Lockhart, and D. R. Soll (2005)
Genetics 169, 1311-1327
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Centromeric DNA sequences in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are all different and unique.
K. Sanyal, M. Baum, and J. Carbon (2004)
PNAS 101, 11374-11379
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Closely Related Species Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis Can Mate.
C. Pujol, K. J. Daniels, S. R. Lockhart, T. Srikantha, J. B. Radke, J. Geiger, and D. R. Soll (2004)
Eukaryot. Cell 3, 1015-1027
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Clade-Specific Flucytosine Resistance Is Due to a Single Nucleotide Change in the FUR1 Gene of Candida albicans.
A. R. Dodgson, K. J. Dodgson, C. Pujol, M. A. Pfaller, and D. R. Soll (2004)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48, 2223-2227
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Hemoglobin Regulates Expression of an Activator of Mating-Type Locus {alpha} Genes in Candida albicans.
M. L. Pendrak, S. S. Yan, and D. D. Roberts (2004)
Eukaryot. Cell 3, 764-775
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evolution of the MAT locus and its Ho endonuclease in yeast species.
G. Butler, C. Kenny, A. Fagan, C. Kurischko, C. Gaillardin, and K. H. Wolfe (2004)
PNAS 101, 1632-1637
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Release of a Potent Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Chemoattractant Is Regulated by White-Opaque Switching in Candida albicans.
J. Geiger, D. Wessels, S. R. Lockhart, and D. R. Soll (2004)
Infect. Immun. 72, 667-677
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Flucytosine Resistance Is Restricted to a Single Genetic Clade of Candida albicans.
C. Pujol, M. A. Pfaller, and D. R. Soll (2004)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48, 262-266
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Phenotypic Switching and Mating Type Switching of Candida glabrata at Sites of Colonization.
P. J. Brockert, S. A. Lachke, T. Srikantha, C. Pujol, R. Galask, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Infect. Immun. 71, 7109-7118
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Multilocus Sequence Typing of Candida glabrata Reveals Geographically Enriched Clades.
A. R. Dodgson, C. Pujol, D. W. Denning, D. R. Soll, and A. J. Fox (2003)
J. Clin. Microbiol. 41, 5709-5717
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
MF{alpha}1, the Gene Encoding the {alpha} Mating Pheromone of Candida albicans.
S. L. Panwar, M. Legrand, D. Dignard, M. Whiteway, and Paul. T. Magee (2003)
Eukaryot. Cell 2, 1350-1360
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Adhesin Hwp1 and the First Daughter Cell Localize to the a/a Portion of the Conjugation Bridge during Candida albicans Mating.
K. J. Daniels, S. R. Lockhart, J. F. Staab, P. Sundstrom, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Mol. Biol. Cell 14, 4920-4930
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
{alpha}-Pheromone-Induced "Shmooing" and Gene Regulation Require White-Opaque Switching during Candida albicans Mating.
S. R. Lockhart, R. Zhao, K. J. Daniels, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Eukaryot. Cell 2, 847-855
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Allelic variation in the contiguous loci encoding Candida albicans ALS5, ALS1 and ALS9.
X. Zhao, C. Pujol, D. R. Soll, and L. L. Hoyer (2003)
Microbiology 149, 2947-2960
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Skin Facilitates Candida albicans Mating.
S. A. Lachke, S. R. Lockhart, K. J. Daniels, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Infect. Immun. 71, 4970-4976
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Optimization and Validation of Multilocus Sequence Typing for Candida albicans.
A. Tavanti, N. A. R. Gow, S. Senesi, M. C. J. Maiden, and F. C. Odds (2003)
J. Clin. Microbiol. 41, 3765-3776
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Relationship between Switching and Mating in Candida albicans.
D. R. Soll, S. R. Lockhart, and R. Zhao (2003)
Eukaryot. Cell 2, 390-397
   Full Text »    PDF »
Drug Resistance Is Not Directly Affected by Mating Type Locus Zygosity in Candida albicans.
C. Pujol, S. A. Messer, M. Pfaller, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47, 1207-1212
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Three Mating Type-Like Loci in Candida glabrata.
T. Srikantha, S. A. Lachke, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Eukaryot. Cell 2, 328-340
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cell Biology of Mating in Candida albicans.
S. R. Lockhart, K. J. Daniels, R. Zhao, D. Wessels, and D. R. Soll (2003)
Eukaryot. Cell 2, 49-61
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cell identity and sexual development in Cryptococcus neoformans are controlled by the mating-type-specific homeodomain protein Sxi1alpha.
C. M. Hull, R. C. Davidson, and J. Heitman (2002)
Genes & Dev. 16, 3046-3060
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Metabolic specialization associated with phenotypic switching in Candidaalbicans.
C.-Y. Lan, G. Newport, L. A. Murillo, T. Jones, S. Scherer, R. W. Davis, and N. Agabian (2002)
PNAS 99, 14907-14912
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Estimating the Spontaneous Mutation Rate of Loss of Sex in the Human Pathogenic Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.
J. Xu (2002)
Genetics 162, 1157-1167
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mating-Type Locus of Cryptococcus neoformans: a Step in the Evolution of Sex Chromosomes.
K. B. Lengeler, D. S. Fox, J. A. Fraser, A. Allen, K. Forrester, F. S. Dietrich, and J. Heitman (2002)
Eukaryot. Cell 1, 704-718
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Candida albicans, White-Opaque Switchers Are Homozygous for Mating Type.
S. R. Lockhart, C. Pujol, K. J. Daniels, M. G. Miller, A. D. Johnson, M. A. Pfaller, and D. R. Soll (2002)
Genetics 162, 737-745
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The CENP-A homolog CaCse4p in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans is a centromere protein essential for chromosome transmission.
K. Sanyal and J. Carbon (2002)
PNAS 99, 12969-12974
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Roles of TUP1 in Switching, Phase Maintenance, and Phase-Specific Gene Expression in Candida albicans.
R. Zhao, S. R. Lockhart, K. Daniels, and D. R. Soll (2002)
Eukaryot. Cell 1, 353-365
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spt3 Plays Opposite Roles in Filamentous Growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans and Is Required for C. albicans Virulence.
L. Laprade, V. L. Boyartchuk, W. F. Dietrich, and F. Winston (2002)
Genetics 161, 509-519
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Homozygosity at the Candida albicans MTL locus associated with azole resistance.
T. R. Rustad, D. A. Stevens, M. A. Pfaller, and T. C. White (2002)
Microbiology 148, 1061-1072
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
ORP-3, a human oxysterol-binding protein gene differentially expressed in hematopoietic cells.
C. C. Gregorio-King, G. R. Collier, J. S. McMillan, C. M. Waugh, J. L. McLeod, F. M. Collier, and M. A. Kirkland (2001)
Blood 98, 2279-2281
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genomic evidence for a complete sexual cycle in Candida albicans.
K.-W. Tzung, R. M. Williams, S. Scherer, N. Federspiel, T. Jones, N. Hansen, V. Bivolarevic, L. Huizar, C. Komp, R. Surzycki, et al. (2001)
PNAS 98, 3249-3253
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The ste3 Pheromone Receptor Gene of Pneumocystis carinii Is Surrounded by a Cluster of Signal Transduction Genes.
A. G. Smulian, T. Sesterhenn, R. Tanaka, and M. T. Cushion (2001)
Genetics 157, 991-1002
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Overlapping Functions of the Yeast Oxysterol-Binding Protein Homologues.
C. T. Beh, L. Cool, J. Phillips, and J. Rine (2001)
Genetics 157, 1117-1140
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Infrequent Genetic Exchange and Recombination in the Mitochondrial Genome of Candida albicans.
J. B. Anderson, C. Wickens, M. Khan, L. E. Cowen, N. Federspiel, T. Jones, and L. M. Kohn (2001)
J. Bacteriol. 183, 865-872
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Identification of the MATa mating-type locus of Cryptococcus neoformans reveals a serotype A MATa strain thought to have been extinct.
K. B. Lengeler, P. Wang, G. M. Cox, J. R. Perfect, and J. Heitman (2000)
PNAS 97, 14455-14460
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Signal Transduction Cascades Regulating Fungal Development and Virulence.
K. B. Lengeler, R. C. Davidson, C. D'souza, T. Harashima, W.-C. Shen, P. Wang, X. Pan, M. Waugh, and J. Heitman (2000)
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64, 746-785
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Kluyveromyces lactis Sir2p Regulates Cation Sensitivity and Maintains a Specialized Chromatin Structure at the Cryptic {alpha}-Locus.
S. U. Åström, A. Kegel, J. O. O. Sjöstrand, and J. Rine (2000)
Genetics 156, 81-91
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Transcription factors in Candida albicans - environmental control of morphogenesis.
J. F. Ernst (2000)
Microbiology 146, 1763-1774
   Full Text »
Evidence for Mating of the "Asexual" Yeast Candida albicans in a Mammalian Host.
C. M. Hull, R. M. Raisner, and A. D. Johnson (2000)
Science 289, 307-310
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Induction of Mating in Candida albicans by Construction of MTLa and MTLalpha Strains.
B. B. Magee and P. T. Magee (2000)
Science 289, 310-313
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Evolution of Drug Resistance in Experimental Populations of Candida albicans.
L. E. Cowen, D. Sanglard, D. Calabrese, C. Sirjusingh, J. B. Anderson, and L. M. Kohn (2000)
J. Bacteriol. 182, 1515-1522
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)