LYS2 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU5G08890 (LYS2, lysF) encodes a homoaconitate hydratase (EC 4.2.1.36), a mitochondrial enzyme that binds a 4Fe-4S cluster and is required for lysine biosynthesis. The gene is associated with inflammatory and immune responses, cellular response to iron ion starvation, and morphogenesis. In Aspergillus fumigatus, LYS2 is linked to a lethal pathogen phenotype and aspergillosis, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The gene is associated with decreased mitophagy, pexophagy, and reticulophagy, increased apoptosis, abnormal mitochondrial transport and genome maintenance, altered pseudohyphal growth, reduced sporulation and biofilm formation, and changes in stress resistance, metal resistance, and carbon source utilization. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to abnormal endocytosis and vacuolar morphology.