CHS7 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU2G13430 (symbol CHS7, also known as csmB or AfCHS7) on chromosome 2 of Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a chitin synthase with cytoskeletal motor activity, actin and ATP binding, and an enzyme classification of 2.4.1.16. The product contains chitin synthase, myosin head motor, DEK_C, cytochrome b5-like heme/steroid-binding, nucleotide-diphosphosugar transferase, and P-loop NTPase domains. It is associated with chitin anabolism and fungal-type cell wall organization, and localizes to the myosin complex, cytoplasmic vesicle membrane, cross wall, cell periphery, cell tip, and plasmalemma. The gene has been connected to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mouse and Galleria mellonella models, and to polysaccharide content. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity, turgor pressure, and infection.