biostudies-literatureWu TNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNatural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission806465https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8787122biostudies-literatureUnknown11<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> is an opportunistic yeast-like pathogen that mainly infects immunocompromised individuals and causes fatal meningitis. Sexual reproduction can promote the exchange of genetic material between different strains of <i>C. neoformans</i>, which is one of the reasons leading to the emergence of highly pathogenic and drug-resistant strains of <i>C. neoformans</i>. Although much research has been done on the regulation mechanism of <i>Cryptococcus</i> sexual reproduction, there are few studies on the sexual reproduction regulation of <i>Cryptococcus</i> by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This study identified an F-box protein, Cdc4, which contains a putative F-box domain and eight WD40 domains. The expression pattern analysis showed that the <i>CDC4</i> gene was exFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiologyRole of F-box Protein Cdc4 in Fungal Virulence and Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>.PMC8787122cstc2021jcyj-msxmX107731970145; 32170203Guo YBHan LTFan CLWu TLiu TBfalseRole of F-box Protein Cdc4 in Fungal Virulence and Sexual Reproduction of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>.<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> is an opportunistic yeast-like pathogen that mainly infects immunocompromised individuals and causes fatal meningitis. Sexual reproduction can promote the exchange of genetic material between different strains of <i>C. neoformans</i>, which is one of the reasons leading to the emergence of highly pathogenic and drug-resistant strains of <i>C. neoformans</i>. Although much research has been done on the regulation mechanism of <i>Cryptococcus</i> sexual reproduction, there are few studies on the sexual reproduction regulation of <i>Cryptococcus</i> by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This study identified an F-box protein, Cdc4, which contains a putative F-box domain and eight WD40 domains. The expression pattern analysis showed that the <i>CDC4</i> gene was ex2021-01-01T00:00:00Z20212025-04-25T17:11:20.783Z2022-02-11T16:00:54.378ZS-EPMC87871223508776610.3389/fcimb.2021.806465