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A temperature-regulated, retrotransposon-like element from Candida albicans
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Journal of Bacteriology
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Researchers identified a novel retrotransposon-like element, Tca1, in Candida albicans. This element, Tca1, is dispersed in the genome and may influence the organism
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Mycology
Background:
- Repetitive elements play crucial roles in genome evolution and plasticity.
- Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, possesses a dynamic genome.
- Understanding mobile genetic elements in C. albicans is key to deciphering its genomic evolution and pathogenicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel repetitive element from the Candida albicans genome.
- To elucidate the structure, genomic distribution, and transcriptional properties of the identified element.
- To determine the potential role of this element in the genomic evolution and pathogenicity of C. albicans.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of a repetitive DNA fragment (alpha element) from C. albicans.
- Genomic DNA analysis to determine copy number and location of the alpha element.
- Sequence analysis of composite elements containing alpha repeats, including flanking regions and transcriptional activity assessment.
- Comparative analysis with known retrotransposons and retrovirus-like elements.
Main Results:
- A repetitive element, designated alpha, was isolated and found to be dispersed in the C. albicans genome.
- A composite element, consisting of two direct repeats of the alpha element separated by 5.5 kb, was identified.
- This composite element, named Tca1, exhibits structural features of retrotransposon-like elements, including terminal inverted repeats and transcription into mRNA.
- Tca1 expression is temperature-dependent, increasing significantly at 25°C compared to 37°C, and shows strain-specific copy number and location variations.
Conclusions:
- The composite element Tca1 is a novel retrotransposon-like element in Candida albicans.
- Tca1 possesses characteristics consistent with mobile genetic elements, including variable genomic distribution and copy number.
- Tca1 may contribute to the genomic evolution of C. albicans and potentially influence its pathogenic capabilities.