Cloning and characterization of PRB1, a Candida albicans gene encoding a putative novel endoprotease B and factors affecting its expression

Abstract Several cDNA fragments corresponding to transcripts differentially expressed under conditions that favor mycelial growth of Candida albicans were identified by the “differential display” technique. One of these was cloned and used as a probe to rescue the full gene from a genomic library of the fungus. The sequence identified a single, uninterrupted open reading frame of 1395 nucleotides encoding a putative protein of 465 residues and a theoretical molecular weight of 50.3 kDa, present in the genome as a single copy located at chromosome 2 in different strains. The gene product showed high homology with subtilisin-like proteases, mainly PRB1, the vacuolar B protease from Saccharomy…