ORLA — Candida albicans

Summary

C1_03380W_A (ORLA, also known as TPS2) encodes a protein with trehalose synthase, trehalose-phosphatase and transglucosylase activities, containing Glyco_trans_20 and trehalose_PPase domains. In Candida albicans, this gene is associated with mycose biosynthesis and metabolism, cellular responses to desiccation, heat, nitrogen starvation and oxidative stress, as well as programmed cell death, autophagy regulation, chitin anabolism, ascospore formation, telomere maintenance and nuclear export. The protein localises to the cytosol, nucleus and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase complex. ORLA is associated with increased acquired thermotolerance, freeze-thaw resistance, starvation resistance and stationary-phase survival, alongside decreased cold sensitivity, altered mating response, delayed meiosis, absent spore germination and increased flocculation. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to sporogenesis and acid sensitivity.