Identification of a gene encoding the pyruvate decarboxylase gene regulator CaPdc2p from Candida albicans

In a screen for Candida albicans genes encoding transactivating proteins, a pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1.) regulator gene was isolated. An open reading frame (ORF) of 2511 bp was identified encoding a predicted protein of 836 amino acids with a molecular weight of 94.4 kDa. The protein showed glutamine- and proline-rich stretches typical for transcriptional activator s. The amino acid sequence comparisons between CaPd2p of C. albicans and bo th Pdc2p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rag3p of Kluyveromyces lactis, rev ealed similarities of 40% and 39%, respectively. The CaPDC2 gene was locali zed on chromosome 1. Southern blot analysis indicated that CaPDC2 might be a single copy gene. The growth defect of a S. cerevisiae pdc2 Delta mutant on glucose was compensated by transformation of the C. albicans CnPDC2 gene . The EMBL Accession No. for the sequence reported in this paper is Y17007. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.