Title |
REVIEW] Hgc1-Cdc28–how much does a single protein kinase do in the regulation of hyphal development in Candida albicans? |
Author |
Yue Wang |
Address |
Candida albicans Biology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, and Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore |
Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 54(3),170-177, 2016,
|
DOI |
10.1007/s12275-016-5550-9
|
Key Words |
Candida albicans, yeast-to-hyphae growth transition,
cyclin-dependent kinase, polarized growth, protein
phosphorylation |
Abstract |
The fungal human pathogen Candida albicans can cause invasive
infection with high mortality rates. A key virulence
factor is its ability to switch between three morphologies:
yeast, pseudohyphae and hyphae. In contrast to the ovalshaped
unicellular yeast cells, hyphae are highly elongated,
tube-like, and multicellular. A long-standing question is what
coordinates all the cellular machines to construct cells with
distinct shapes. Hyphal-specific genes (HSGs) are thought
to hold the answer. Among the numerous HSGs found, only
UME6 and HGC1 are required for hyphal development.
UME6 encodes a transcription factor that regulates many
HSGs including HGC1. HGC1 encodes a G1 cyclin which
partners with the Cdc28 cyclin-dependent kinase. Hgc1-
Cdc28 simultaneously phosphorylates and regulates multiple
substrates, thus controlling multiple cellular apparatuses for
morphogenesis. This review is focused on major progresses
made in the past decade on Hgc1’s roles and regulation in
C. albicans hyphal development and other traits important
for infection. |