CHS1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU2G01870 (CHS1, also known as chsA) encodes a chitin synthase, an enzyme with chitin synthase activity (EC 2.4.1.16) that contains chitin synthase N-terminal and catalytic domains. This gene is associated with cell septum assembly, septum positioning, ascospore wall assembly, septum digestion after cytokinesis, conidia formation, hyphal growth, and fungal-type cell wall organization. The encoded protein localizes to the chitosome, hyphal tip, cross wall, cell periphery, and plasma membrane. CHS1 has been linked to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and studied in Galleria mellonella and Mus musculus models. Associations include abnormal chitin deposition, septum formation, spore wall formation, bipolar budding, cell fusion, vesicle distribution, and decreased flocculation and adhesion, as well as altered cell cycle progression, increased respiratory and fermentative metabolism, and increased survival in stationary phase.