Opportunities for Drug Discovery: Targeting Fungal Cell Walls

GPI‐anchored proteins are required for fungal cell wall construction. These proteins undergo plasma membrane‐to‐cell wall transfer, a process unique to fungi. The transfer of GPI‐proteins from membrane to wall requires the existence of extracellular GPI‐binding and ‐processing proteins. The goal of this proposal is to design and purify a peptide with a GPI carbohydrate anchor to use as a competitive inhibitor of GPI‐based protein anchorage in the fungal cell wall. A successful result will lead to a new class of antifungal drugs.