cyp51A — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU4G06890 (cyp51A) on chromosome 4 of Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a sterol 14-demethylase (EC 1.14.14.154), a cytochrome P450 family member with heme binding and iron-binding activity. The gene is associated with sterol homeostasis, demethylation, and membrane localisation at the ER. It is linked to asexual reproduction and sporulation, as well as to processes including fatty acid oxidation, prenylation, protein farnesylation, glutathione metabolism, and mitochondrial fission. The gene is associated with the lethal pathogen phenotype and with aspergillosis, particularly invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, with experimental models in Galleria mellonella and Mus musculus. Related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and fusarium head blight in wheat.