Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42744982›Full record

ArticleNature microbiology2026

Cryo-EM structures of Candida albicans chitin synthase Chs1 reveal a druggable translocation channel.

Zhenning Ren, Abhishek Chhetri, Chang Liu, Ziqiang Guan, ShuYu Offner, Dmitry Kozhanov, Mario J Borgnia, Wonpil Im, Kenichi Yokoyama, Seok-Yong Lee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Zhenning Ren *Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Abhishek Chhetri *Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Chang LiuDepartments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-9539-3956
Ziqiang GuanDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8082-3423
ShuYu OffnerGenome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, NC, USA.
Dmitry KozhanovDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Mario J BorgniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9159-1413
Wonpil ImDepartments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5642-6041
Kenichi YokoyamaDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. ken.yoko@duke.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5625-469X
Seok-Yong LeeDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. seok-yong.lee@duke.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-9921

Funding

Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-EM: Equipment SupplementR24GM154185 · NIGMS · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI James E Evans, CLAUDIA SUSANA LOPEZ · 2024 to 2026
$21.5M
NIEHS Cryo-EM Core FacilityZICES103326 · NIEHS · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES · PI BORGNIA, MARIO · 2017 to 2025
$17.0M
Catalysis and inhibition of chitin synthesis from pathogenic fungiR01AI170906 · NIAID · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI LEE, SEOK-YONG, YOKOYAMA, KENICHI · 2022 to 2025
$3.1M
Roles of novel cationic lipids in bacterial pathogenesisR01AI178692 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · PI Kelly S Doran, Ziqiang Guan · 2023 to 2026
$2.6M
Adaptive alterations of lipids in mitis group streptococciR01AI148366 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · PI GUAN, ZIQIANG, PALMER, KELLI LEA · 2020 to 2024
$2.5M
Development of Computational Tools and Their Applications to Various Biological SystemsR35GM153458 · NIGMS · LEHIGH UNIVERSITY · PI Wonpil Im · 2024 to 2026
$1.2M
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Division of Intramural Research of the NIAID) R01AI170906Intramural NIH HHS ZIC ES103326NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI148366NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI170906NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI178692NIGMS NIH HHS R24 GM154185NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM153458U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) ZIC ES103326U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R35GM153458
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Invasive candidiasis is a leading cause of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections with high mortality. While the fungal cell wall is an excellent therapeutic target, inhibitor development against the essential chitin synthase (Chs) has been hampered by the absence of structural and mechanistic understanding of class II Chs, which contribute to fungal viability. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of Candida albicans class II Chs (CaChs1) at 2.93-3.38 Å resolution, providing insights into its mechanisms of early elongation, chito-oligomer translocation and inhibition by the CaChs1-specific non-competitive inhibitor diynyl arylamine (DA). Chitin elongation and translocation are coupled to coordinated motion of the glycosyltransferase domain and the dimer interface. Notably, DA binds within the chitin translocation channel where a regulatory lipid resides and inhibits the enzyme by occluding product polymer extrusion. Importantly, DA showed potent synergy with the class I Chs inhibitor nikkomycin Z against C. albicans and Candida auris. These findings establish the chitin translocation channel as a druggable site for rational antifungal design.

Identifiers

PMID42744982
PMCPMC13648194

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.