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Eukaryot Cell

Title:		"Identification and characterization of MFA1, the gene encoding Candida albicans a-factor pheromone"
Author(s):		Dignard D; El-Naggar AL; Logue ME; Butler G; Whiteway M;
Address:		"NRC Biotechnology Research Institute, 6100 Royalmount Ave., Montreal, Quebec H4P 2R2, Canada. daniel.dignard@cnrc.gc.ca"
Journal Title:		Eukaryot Cell
Year:		2007
Volume:		20070105
Issue:		3
Page Number:		487 - 494
DOI:		10.1128/EC.00387-06
ISSN/ISBN:		1535-9778 (Print) 1535-9786 (Electronic) 1535-9786 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In the opaque state, MTLa and MTLalpha strains of Candida albicans are able to mate, and this mating is directed by a pheromone-mediated signaling process. We have used comparisons of genome sequences to identify a C. albicans gene encoding a candidate a-specific mating factor. This gene is conserved in Candida dubliniensis and is similar to a three-gene family in the related fungus Candida parapsilosis but has extremely limited similarity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MFA1 (ScMFA1) and ScMFA2 genes. All these genes encode C-terminal CAAX box motifs characteristic of prenylated proteins. The C. albicans gene, designated CaMFA1, is found on chromosome 2 between ORF19.2165 and ORF19.2219. MFA1 encodes an open reading frame of 42 amino acids that is predicted to be processed to a 14-amino-acid prenylated mature pheromone. Microarray analysis shows that MFA1 is poorly expressed in opaque MTLa cells but is induced when the cells are treated with alpha-factor. Disruption of this C. albicans gene blocks the mating of MTLa cells but not MTLalpha cells, while the reintegration of the gene suppresses this cell-type-specific mating defect"
Keywords:		"Base Sequence/genetics Candida albicans/classification/*genetics Chromosomes, Fungal Gene Deletion Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects/*physiology *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Genome, Fungal Lipoproteins/*genetics/pharmacology Mating Factor Mic;"
Notes:		"MedlineDignard, Daniel El-Naggar, Ahmed L Logue, Mary E Butler, Geraldine Whiteway, Malcolm eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2007/01/09 Eukaryot Cell. 2007 Mar; 6(3):487-94. doi: 10.1128/EC.00387-06. Epub 2007 Jan 5"