Figure 1.

The biological function of zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) in C. neoformans. Under induction of nutrient-limiting conditions, α and a cryptococcal yeast cells can fuse and form dikaryotic filaments, leading to the formation of a basidium in which meiosis occurs to produce four chains of haploid basidiospores. Under laboratory conditions, C. neoformans cells of the α mating type can also fuse and undergo monokaryotic fruiting to produce filaments and basidiospores. The basidiospores can be inhaled into the lungs to establish a dormant infection or disseminate to the central nervous system to cause meningitis in humans. ZNFs are involved in different fungal development stages or processes, such as cell fusion, filamentation, sporulation, virulence, stresses, and light responses, in C. neoformans.