Cloning and identification of genes related with morphogenesis of Candida albicans

A Candida albicans cDNA library was constructed and screened by differential hybridization. In hybridization using probes derived from population of yeast cells or hyphae, 67 recombinant phages exhibited more intense signal with the probe derived from hyphae than with the probe from yeast cells. One phage behaved vice versa. Physical map analysis and nucleotide sequence analysis suggested that cDNA of the CX1, a clone specific for yeast form, coded for cytochrome P450 L1A1 (Lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase). Its specific expression pattern was confirmed by Northern analysis. Inhibition of serum on the expression of CX1 cDNA was observed. CX2 cDNA was one of those giving intensive signal with hyphae probes. The cDNA sequence contained a tandem repeat sequence, which was also found in ALS1, another Candida albicans gene identified, whose expression was related with morphogenesis. Northern analysis proved that it was expressed intensively with hyphae probes, however the expression could not be detected in those strongly hybridized to yeast cell probes. The locations of both cDNA on chromosome were analyzed.