Abstract
The agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) family of Candida albicans includes eight genes that encode large cell-surface glycoproteins. The high degree of sequence relatedness between the ALS genes and the tremendous allelic variability often present in the same C. albicans strain complicated definition and characterization of the gene family. The main hypothesis driving ALS family research is that the genes encode adhesins, primarily involved in host-pathogen interactions. Although adhesive function has been demonstrated for several Als proteins, the challenge of studying putative adhesins in a highly adhesive organism like C. albicans has led to varying ideas about how best to pursue such investigations, and results that are sometimes contradictory. Recent analysis of alsdelta/alsdelta strains suggested roles for Als proteins outside of adhesion to host surfaces, and a broader scope of Als protein function than commonly believed. The availability and use of experimental methodologies to study C. albicans at the genomic level, and the ALS family en masse, have advanced knowledge of these genes and emphasized their importance in C. albicans biology and pathogenesis.
Highlights
Candida albicans ALS1 was first described over ten years ago [1]
Reintegration of a wild-type copy of EFG1 restored ALS1 transcript to the Northern blot and constitutive expression of ALS1 altered cellular morphology to a filamentous form, suggesting that ALS1 is a downstream effector of EFG1
Using Northern blot analysis, ALS3 transcript was not detected in an efg1/efg1 strain while mutation of CPH1 did not affect ALS3 transcript level
Summary
Research efforts have focused on understanding the relatedness of ALS1 to the larger family of ALS genes and exploring the function of the Als proteins. Functional studies have focused primarily on the hypothesis that Als proteins are C. albicans adhesins. Since the last review of the ALS family literature [2], many reagents and approaches specific for study of the ALS family in C. albicans have been described. These developments led to large advances in the understanding of the ALS family and its place in the C. albicans genome and proteome. The purpose of this review is to summarize current information about the ALS genes and their encoded proteins and to define new challenges for the future of ALS family research
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
