BD — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU5G11230 (BD, AfBD) encodes a RAS small monomeric GTPase, RasA, belonging to the small GTPase Ras-type family with GTPase activity and GTP binding. The gene is associated with regulation of asexual sporulation, conidium formation, spore germination, and protein farnesylation, as well as Ras protein signal transduction, cell polarization, and nuclear movement. It is linked to the inflammatory response and innate immunity, and localizes to the plasma membrane and cross wall. Phenotypic associations include decreased vacuolar transport, absent bipolar budding, decreased redox state, increased mating-type switching, decreased rate of entry into G0, absent osmotic and oxidative stress resistance, delayed nuclear export, and decreased budding rate. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and lethal phenotypes.