CBK1 — Candida albicans

Summary

C1_10380C_A (CBK1, CaCBK1) on Candida albicans chromosome 1 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase belonging to the Rho-associated kinase family, with protein kinase activity and ATP binding. The gene is associated with positive regulation of filamentous growth, biofilm formation, and primary cell septum biogenesis, as well as negative regulation of protein localization to the medial cortex and maintenance of protein location at cell tips. It is linked to actomyosin contractile ring organization, lipid raft organization, exocytosis, and protein secretion. Localization evidence places the product at growing cell tips, hyphal tips, the actomyosin contractile ring, and the Sid2-Mob1 complex. Phenotypic associations include absent septum formation, decreased osmotic stress resistance, increased virulence, delayed cytokinesis, abnormal bipolar budding, and decreased adhesion. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cytokinesis and cell separation.