Fungal cell wall synthesis gene

A method of screening for a compound that has an antifungal action, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample with a fungus that is overexpressing a protein selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 28, 40 or 59,
• (ii) a protein encoded by a DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 27, 39, 41, 54 or 58,
• (iii) a protein encoded by a DNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 27, 39, 41, 54 or 58, wherein said stringent conditions are (i) 4×SSC at 65° C., then washing in 0.1×SSC for 1 hour at 65° C.,
• (iv) a DNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 27, 39, 41, 54 or 58, wherein said stringent conditions are 4×SSC at 42° C. in 50% formamide,
• (v) a protein encoded by a DNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 27, 39, 41, 54, or 58, wherein said stringent conditions are PerfectHyb™ (TOYOBO) solution for 2.5 hours at 65° C., then washing in (i) 2×SSC, 0.05% SDS solution at 25° C. for 5 minutes, (ii) 2×SSC, 0.05% SDS solution at 25° C. for 15 minutes, and (iii) 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS solution at 50° C. for 20 minutes, and,
• (vi) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 28, 40 or 59, wherein one or more amino acids have been added, deleted, substituted, and/or inserted;
• (b) detecting the amount of transport of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein to the cell wall in the fungus;
• and
• (c) selecting a compound that diminishes the amount of transport of the GPI-anchored protein to the cell wall detected in step (b) as compared to the amount of transport detected when the test sample was contacted with a fungus that is not overexpressing the protein.