bck1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

The Aspergillus fumigatus gene bck1 (also known as AfMIK-1 and MIK-1) on chromosome 3 encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MEKK) with serine/threonine kinase activity, belonging to the MAP kinase kinase kinase family. This gene is associated with multiple MAPK cascades, including the cell integrity, JNK, p38, and pheromone response pathways, as well as fungal-type cell wall organization, conidia and spore formation, cell division, and septation. It is linked to hypersensitivity, tyrosine breakdown, and the upregulation of developmental processes. The encoded protein localizes to the cytoplasm, plasmalemma, cell tips, division septa, and spindle pole bodies. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence traits, including reduced virulence, loss of pathogenicity, and hypervirulence, as well as associations with plant diseases such as vascular wilt and rice blast.