RGF1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU5G08550 (RGF1, also known as ROM2) encodes a putative Rho guanyl nucleotide exchange factor (Rom2) containing DH, PH, CNH, and DEP domains. The gene product binds phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and lipids, and is associated with small GTPase-mediated signal transduction, positive regulation of the cell integrity MAPK cascade, and regulation of cell wall organization or biogenesis. It is linked to cellular thermotolerance, actin cortex stabilization, bipolar cell growth, asexual sporulation, ascospore wall assembly, and chitin anabolism. Localization evidence connects the protein to the cell cortex, division septum, actomyosin contractile ring, and spore wall layers. Phenotypic associations include increased thermotolerance and virulence, decreased septum formation and cytokinesis rate, abnormal cell cycle progression, delayed spore germination, and altered pheromone sensitivity. Related genes in other species link the family to Rho1 guanine nucleotide exchange activity.