CSA6 Gene

CSA6 Gene has been identified in Candida albicans, a fungal species.
In a recent study, researchers carried out a large-scale screen to identify regulators of chromosome stability in C. Albicans, a clinically relevant fungal model system.
They individually screened the effect of overexpression of more than a thousand genes of C. Albicans on genome stability and were successful in identifying a set of six chromosome stability (CSA) genes that are important for maintaining genome integrity.
Five of the CSA genes identified in the study are known to be important for cell division in other species.
The sixth CSA gene, named CSA6 encoded for a protein that is essential for viability in C. Albicans.
They found that CSA6 was a critical regulator of cell cycle progression wherein both overexpression and deletion of CSA6 lead to reduced growth of C. Albicans cells.

Why in news?

A newly identified gene can hold the key to preventing the fungal infection Candidiasis which often affects intensive-care unit (ICU) patients, cancer patients and patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.