CDC42 — Candida albicans

Summary

C1_08450C_A (CDC42) on Candida albicans chromosome 1 encodes a small GTPase of the Rho family, possessing GTPase activity, GTP and GDP binding, protein kinase binding, and signaling adaptor activity. This gene is associated with the regulation of cell morphogenesis, including bipolar cell growth, budding cell isotropic bud growth, and the switch from budding to filamentous growth. It is linked to cell wall modification, specifically positive regulation of 1,3-beta-D-glucan biosynthetic process, and to the regulation of endocytic recycling, exocytosis, and vesicle-mediated transport. CDC42 is also associated with cell fate determination, septin ring organization, and downregulation of phenotypic switching. The protein localizes to the hyphal tip polarisome, Spitzenkorper, exocytic vesicle, and septin ring. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity.