hxkA — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU2G15700 (hxkA) on chromosome 2 of Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a hexokinase, a member of the hexokinase family with N-terminal and C-terminal domains and an ATPase nucleotide-binding domain. The enzyme exhibits hexokinase, glucokinase, fructokinase, mannokinase, N-acetylglucosamine kinase, and glucosamine kinase activities, and binds ATP and D-glucose. It is associated with canonical glycolysis, carbon catabolite repression, glucose 6-phosphate metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine breakdown, fructose uptake, and cell glucose homeostasis. The gene is linked to fungal-type cell wall biogenesis, chitin anabolism, regulation of phenotypic switching, development of symbiont in host, adhesion of symbiont to host, and interaction with host. The protein localizes to the cytosol, nucleus, and mitochondria. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and unaffected pathogenicity.