ALS1 — Candida albicans

Summary

ALS1 (C6_03700W_A) in Candida albicans chromosome 6 encodes a member of the agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) protein family, characterised by agglutinin-like repeats. The protein is localised to the yeast-form and hyphal cell walls, the plasma membrane and extracellular vesicles. ALS1 is associated with fibronectin, laminin, CAM and peptide binding, and is linked to cell adhesion involved in biofilm formation, multi-species biofilm formation, cell-matrix adhesion, iron acquisition from the host, and perturbation of host processes including cytokine and IL-1 production, chronic inflammatory response, ruffle assembly and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. The gene is also connected to relative growth rate and oxidative stress response. Related genes in other species link the family to adhesion and biofilm formation, though unaffected pathogenicity has been reported for a sequence-similar relative.