Finding. Delete the Cryptococcus casein kinase Yck2 and the fungus loses cell-wall disguise, heat tolerance, and drug composure. Bloom, Panepinto and colleagues ask why. Proximity labeling puts Yck2 next to mitochondrial proteins and the essential proton pump Pma1. The kinase is in mitochondrial fractions. Without it, mitochondrial inhibitors bite harder, mitochondrial ROS rises, and pHluorin says the cell is too alkaline.
Score 76. Druggable fungal kinase with a mitochondrial and pH mechanism. High confidence for the phenotypes as stated.
What to do with it If you optimize Yck2 inhibitors, add mtROS and pH, not only wall stains.