Fungal cell cycle

The fungal cell cycle is a highly regulated series of events comprising DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis that allows for fungal growth and reproduction (Berman, 2006). This process is coordinated by central regulatory proteins, primarily cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) like Cdc28/Cdk1, which associate with stage-specific cyclins to drive cells through G1, S, G2, and M phases (Enserink & Kolodner, 2010). As a therapeutic target, the fungal cell cycle offers opportunities for selective toxicity by exploiting structural differences in fungal-specific proteins or unique regulatory mechanisms, such as those involved in bud site selection or fungal-specific spindle pole body dynamics (Schuldiner et al., 2005). Clinically used drugs like griseofulvin target the fungal cell cycle by binding to tubulin and disrupting the mitotic spindle, while others like flucytosine interfere with DNA synthesis to induce S-phase arrest (Panda et al., 2005; Vermes et al., 2000). Although many core components are conserved across eukaryotes, the distinct requirements for fungal cytokinesis and the presence of unique fungal cyclins make this biological process a valuable, albeit complex, area for antifungal drug development (Hartwell, 1974; Rusche & Rine, 2010).

Other names

Fungal cell divisionFungal mitotic cycleFungal replication cycleYeast cell cycle

Inhibition of specific cell cycle components such as microtubules (disrupting the mitotic spindle), DNA polymerases (halting S-phase progression), or regulatory kinases (preventing phase transitions), resulting in cell cycle arrest and inhibition of fungal growth.