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Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cell-surface variability in Protozoa and Fungi

Author(s)
Verstrepen, Kevin J.; Fink, Gerald R
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Abstract
Eukaryotic microorganisms have evolved ingenious mechanisms to generate variability at their cell surface, permitting differential adherence, rapid adaptation to changing environments, and evasion of immune surveillance. Fungi such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the pathogen Candida albicans carry a family of mucin and adhesin genes that allow adhesion to various surfaces and tissues. Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei, and Plasmodium falciparum likewise contain large arsenals of different cell surface adhesion genes. In both yeasts and protozoa, silencing and differential expression of the gene family results in surface variability. Here, we discuss unexpected similarities in the structure and genomic location of the cell surface genes, the role of repeated DNA sequences, and the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms—all of which contribute to the remarkable cell surface variability in these highly divergent microbes.
Date issued
2009-07
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66318
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Journal
Annual Review of Genetics
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Citation
Verstrepen, Kevin J. and Gerald R. Fink. "Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Cell-Surface Variability in Protozoa and Fungi." Annual Review of Genetics, v.43 (2009) 1-24.
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
0066-4197
1545-2948

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