Monosomy of a specific chromosome determines L-sorbose utilization: a novel regulatory mechanism in Candida albicans.

Abstract

We report the identification of the gene, SOU1, required for L-sorbose assimilation in Candida albicans. The level of the expression of SOU1 is determined by the copy number of chromosome III (also denoted chromosome 5), such that monosomic strains assimilate L-sorbose, whereas disomic strains do not, in spite of the fact that SOU1 is not on this chromosome. We suggest that C. albicans contains a resource of potentially beneficial genes that are activated by changes in chromosome number, and that this elaborate mechanism regulates the utilization of food supplies and possibly other important functions, thus representing a novel general means for regulating gene expression in microbes.

• Authors: G Janbon, F Sherman, E Rustchenko
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 95 Issue 9 Pg. 5150-5 (Apr 28 1998) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9560244 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Alcohol Oxidoreductases
• Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases
• sorbose dehydrogenase
• Sorbose

Topics

• Alcohol Oxidoreductases (genetics)
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Base Sequence
• Candida albicans (genetics)
• Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases (physiology)
• Chromosome Mapping
• Cloning, Molecular
• Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
• Genes, Fungal
• Karyotyping
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Monosomy
• Multigene Family
• Mutagenesis, Insertional
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (genetics)
• Sorbose (metabolism)