GNA1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU6G02460 (GNA1, gup1) in Aspergillus fumigatus encodes a protein with a GNPNAT1-like domain, a GNAT domain, and acyl-CoA acyltransferase activity, and has glucosamine-phosphate N-acetyltransferase activity (EC 2.3.1.4) and aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. The gene is associated with UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis, bipolar bud site selection, and ER-to-Golgi transport, and its product localizes to the ER membrane, cytosol, nucleus, and fungal biofilm matrix. GNA1 is associated with aspergillosis and has been studied in Galleria mellonella. Phenotypic associations include decreased filamentous and invasive growth, increased respiratory growth, altered stress resistance (increased oxidative and decreased hyperosmotic and desiccation resistance), and changes in competitive fitness, toxin resistance, and vacuolar morphology. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and candidiasis.