Role of the Heme Activator Protein Complex in the Sexual Development of Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans isolates are of two mating types: MAT α strains, which are predominant, and MAT a strains, isolated from the sub-Saharan African region, where cryptococcosis is most abundant and severe. Here, we demonstrated the function of the CCAAT -binding HAP complex (Hap2/3/5/X) as a transcriptional repressor of Cpk1 pathway-related genes in cells of both mating types.