uge3 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU3G07910 (uge3) on Aspergillus fumigatus chromosome 3 encodes a putative UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, an enzyme with UDP-glucose 4-epimerase and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 4-epimerase activities (EC 5.1.3.2) that also binds sugars. The protein localises to the cytosol and is associated with the Leloir pathway, galactose metabolism, and nucleotide-sugar metabolism. It is linked to the galactosaminogalactan biosynthetic process, cell wall polysaccharide anabolism, and glycan biosynthesis. Additionally, uge3 is associated with carbon catabolite repression, biofilm formation, hyphal growth, and secondary metabolism. Related genes in other species, including Fusarium and Verticillium, are linked to similar sugar epimerisation functions. The gene is also associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in a mouse model.