ALS2 — Candida albicans

Summary

C6_04380W_A (ALS2) on chromosome 6 of Candida albicans 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. It is associated with multiple binding activities, including fibronectin, laminin, CAM, and peptide binding. Biologically, ALS2 is linked to biofilm formation (both single- and multi-species), cell adhesion during biofilm formation, germ tube formation, flocculation, ruffle assembly, phagocytosis, reductive iron assimilation, copper ion homeostasis, and host response processes such as adhesion of symbiont to host and perturbation of host processes. Related genes in other species are associated with reduced virulence and unaffected pathogenicity.