GAS1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU2G12850 (GAS1, also known as gel3) on chromosome 2 of Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a glucanosyltransferase with 1,3-beta-glucanosyltransferase activity, placing it in the glycoside hydrolase superfamily and the X8 domain-containing glucanosyltransferase family. The gene is associated with fungal-type cell wall 1,3-beta-glucan metabolism and assembly, cell wall biogenesis, cell morphogenesis, division septum assembly, and establishment or maintenance of cell polarity. It is linked to host invasion, adhesion of symbiont to host, single-species biofilm formation on or in the host organism, and cellular responses to pH and calcium ions. The encoded product localizes to the cell septum edging, primary cell septum, new and old growing cell tips, sites of polarized growth, vesicles, and the external side of the plasma membrane. Phenotype associations include absent alkaline pH resistance, abnormal filamentous growth, and altered mating response. Related genes in other species are linked to reduced virulence.