CLONING, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EXPRESSION OF THE CIP2 GENE INDUCED UNDER CADMIUM STRESS IN CANDIDA SP

We isolated, sequenced, and expressed a cadmium-induced gene, CIP2, th at specifically hybridizes to a mRNA of approximately 950 nucleotides. The CIP2 mRNA was barely present in normal Candida cells, but accumul ated at higher levels in cadmium-treated cells. Other heavy metals suc h as copper, mercury, lead, and manganese had no effect on the express ion of the CIP2 gene. CIP2 contains an open reading frame encoding a p rotein of 203 amino acids. This gene was also activated by an oxidant, diamide. Our results suggest that CIP2 may play a crucial role in the specific cellular response to oxidative stress evolved by the cadmium treatment. (C) 1998 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.