ACT — Candida albicans

Summary

C1_13700W_A (ACT1, symbol ACT) on Candida albicans chromosome 1 encodes an actin protein, a structural constituent of the cytoskeleton with ATP hydrolase activity and ATP binding, belonging to the actin and actin-like conserved sequence families. The gene is associated with germ tube formation, quorum sensing, phagocytosis, inflammatory and Th17 immune responses, fluconazole transport, glycogen and mannan metabolism, vacuole inheritance, ascospore wall assembly, and mitotic actomyosin contractile ring contraction. It localizes to actin filament bundles, the cortical actin cytoskeleton, the cellular bud, neck ring, and hyphal tip. Phenotypic associations include delayed protein secretion and cytokinesis, decreased cell cycle progression, abnormal lifespan and sporulation efficiency, absent cell fusion, and increased endocytosis. Studies of related genes in other species link the actin family to reduced virulence and oxidative stress response.