• 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.

Source

1. PIB
2. Journals of India