The genetic complexity of chitin synthesis in fungi

Chitin synthesis is a process maintained across the fungal kingdom that, thanks to the power of genetic manipulation of yeast cells, is now beginning to be understood. Chitin synthesis is based on the regulation of distinct chitin synthase isoenzymes whose number ranges from one in Schizosaccharomyces pombe to seven in some filamentous fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus. This high diversity makes it difficult to find a unique model of regulation. However, the results available suggest common themes in regulation. The arrival of the genomic era, together with the development of fungal genetic technology should allow experimental approaches to this process.