HSC82 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU5G04170 (HSC82) in Aspergillus fumigatus encodes an ATP-dependent protein folding chaperone of the Hsp90 family, characterized by Hsp90 domains. This gene is associated with diverse biological processes including cellular response to heat, unsaturated fatty acid and sterol anabolism, pigmentation, immune response, phagocytosis, regulation of apoptosis, and filamentous growth. It localizes to the hyphal cell wall, cross wall, extracellular vesicles, mitochondria, and plasmalemma. Phenotypic associations link HSC82 to increased thermotolerance, abnormal spore germination, decreased hypoosmotic stress resistance, premature apoptosis, altered cell cycle progression, and absent biofilm formation. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to reduced virulence and oxidative stress response, though these are not established for A. fumigatus itself.