CHT3 — Candida albicans

Summary

CHT3 (CR_10110W_A) on Candida albicans chromosome 8 encodes a chitinase with chitinase activity (EC 3.2.1.14) and chitin binding, belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. This gene is associated with chitin breakdown, polysaccharide breakdown, at the yeast-form cell wall and fungal-type cell wall, and localization to the plasmalemma, extracellular region, and biofilm matrix. It is linked to biofilm formation, filamentous growth in response to starvation, cytokinesis, cell morphogenesis, polar cell growth, autolysis, cell aggregation, quorum sensing, and cellular bud site selection. Associations with the Th17 immune response, response to host, immune response, digestion, and iron transport are also observed. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity and disseminated candidiasis.