ERG4 — Candida albicans

Summary

C3_00760W_A (ERG4, CaERG4A) on Candida albicans chromosome 3 encodes a sterol reductase (EC 1.3.1.71) with D24-sterol reductase activity, a member of the sterol reductase family. The gene is associated with ergosterol and sterol anabolism, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, phenotypic switching, filamentous growth in response to biotic stimulus, morphogenesis, wound healing, oxidative phosphorylation, glycan and carbohydrate metabolism, and cellular response to xenobiotic stimulus. The product localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Associations include abnormal bipolar budding, endocytosis, plasma membrane and cell wall morphology, sterile mating, decreased cell fusion, absent or decreased pheromone-induced cell cycle arrest and shmoo formation, increased cell death, decreased invasive growth, and altered nutrient uptake, iron and phosphorus utilization, cold sensitivity, and gamma ray resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence.