ATG8 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU1G07470, the Aspergillus fumigatus ATG8 gene, encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein belonging to the Atg8-like ubiquitin-like domain family. This gene is associated with autophagy, mitophagy, phagocytosis, cellular responses to nitrogen starvation and oxidative stress, protein transport and secretion, innate immunity, and asexual sporulation. ATG8 localises to the phagophore assembly site (PAS), cytoplasmic vesicles, the fungal-type vacuole membrane, and the Cvt vesicle membrane. Phenotypic associations include delayed autophagy and vegetative growth, decreased lifespan, abnormal filamentous growth, and absent cell cycle progression. Studies of related genes in other species link the ATG8 family to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity, as well as to biomass yield and germination rate.