CRL1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU5G14060 (CRL1, rho4) in Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a putative Rho GTPase (Rho4) with a small GTPase domain, possessing GTPase activity, GTP and GDP binding, protein ser/thr kinase activator activity, and signaling adaptor activity. It is associated with the regulation of actomyosin contractile ring contraction, primary cell septum hydrolysis, positive regulation of septum digestion after cytokinesis, and positive regulation of 1,3-beta-D-glucan biosynthetic process. The gene is linked to Rho protein signal transduction, regulation of division septum assembly, contractile ring assembly, budding cell bud growth, and upregulation of endocytosis. It localizes to the 1,3-beta-glucan synthase complex, hyphal tip, site of polarized growth, and cellular bud tip. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity.