CALA — Candida albicans

Summary

CALA (CMP1) on Candida albicans chromosome 1 encodes a serine/threonine-protein phosphatase of the PP2B/calcineurin family, with calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase activity, calcium-dependent protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity, ferric iron binding, and zinc binding. It is a component of the calcineurin complex and is associated with regulation of cell budding, cell morphogenesis, cell polarization, anisotropic cell growth, apoptotic process, and septation initiation network. The gene is associated with positive regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, downregulation of calcium ion import, and upregulation of RNA 3'-end formation. Phenotypic associations include altered bipolar budding, endocytosis, cell cycle progression, meiosis, desiccation resistance, freeze-thaw resistance, and spore germination. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence.