ALS7 — Candida albicans

Summary

C3_06320W_A (ALS7) on Candida albicans chromosome 3 encodes a member of the agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) protein family, characterized by adhesion domains and fibronectin-binding motifs. The protein is localized to the yeast-form and hyphal cell walls, the plasma membrane, and extracellular vesicles. ALS7 is associated with multiple adhesion-related processes, including cell-matrix adhesion, flocculation, and biofilm formation in both single-species and multi-species contexts. It is linked to host interaction processes such as adhesion of symbiont to host, immune evasion, cytokine production, and perturbation of host processes. The gene has been associated with germ tube formation, reductive iron assimilation, cellular copper ion homeostasis, and phagocytosis. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pathogenicity and host colonization.