SRE1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU2G01260 (SRE1, also known as srbA) encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription activator that binds sterol regulatory elements (SREs) and is associated with protein dimerization and RNA polymerase II-specific cis-regulatory region binding. In Aspergillus fumigatus, SRE1 is associated with the Sre1-Scp1 complex and localizes to the cytoplasmic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, nuclear envelope, Golgi membrane, and chromatin. The gene is linked to responses to hypoxia and iron, regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis, sterol homeostasis, siderophore and heme anabolism, reductive iron assimilation, nitrate assimilation, carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolism, demethylation, maintenance of cell polarity, and nuclear import. SRE1 has also been connected to pulmonary aspergillosis in animal models including Galleria mellonella and Mus musculus. Related genes in other species link the family to Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae.