ERG25 — Candida albicans

Summary

C4_01530C_A (ERG25, also known as ERG251) encodes a sterol desaturase-related protein with a fatty acid hydroxylase domain, annotated with sphingolipid delta-4 desaturase, sphingolipid C4-monooxygenase, and 4-methylsterol oxidase activities, as well as iron binding and redox functions. The gene is associated with sterol, sphingolipid, and glucan metabolism, including cholesterol import, MIPC biosynthesis, and 1,6-beta-glucan anabolism. It is linked to biofilm formation, phenotypic switching, quorum sensing, calcineurin-mediated signaling, and PKC signal transduction. Localized to the ER membrane and plasmalemma, ERG25 is associated with numerous phenotypes including decreased invasive growth and mating efficiency, increased apoptosis and biofilm formation, abnormal plasma membrane morphology, and reduced survival in stationary phase. Related genes in other species link the family to C-4 methylsterol oxidase activity.