Role of three chitin synthase genes in the growth of Candida albicans.

The CHS2 and CHS3 genes of Candida albicans were disrupted. The double disruptant was still viable. Assessment of chitin and of calcofluor white resistance shows that CHS1 is responsible for septum formation and CHS3 is responsible for overall chitin synthesis otherwise. There were only small differences in virulence to immunocompromised mice of homozygous chs2 delta amd chs3 delta null mutants.