Characterisation of the roles of the YEATS domain proteins in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

An important facet of C. albcians virulence is the ability to reprogram its biology by changing gene expression to meet challenges. Post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins might connect metabolic and stress inputs to biological outputs. My thesis revealed broad roles of the histone crotonylation YEATS readers Taf14 and Yaf9 in fitness, stress responses, invasive growth and virulence of C. albicans. These roles are driven by the reader function of the N-terminal YEATS domain and the C-terminus to different degrees. My thesis provides the knowledge foundation for the ability to target fungal YEATS proteins in future antifungal drug discovery efforts.