ERG3 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU6G05140 (ERG3, erg3A) encodes a sterol-C5-desaturase with lathosterol oxidase activity, a member of the Sterol_Desaturase_Related and fatty acid hydroxylase families, and is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. The gene is associated with ergosterol and sterol anabolism, sterol homeostasis, filamentous and hyphal growth, and cellular response to xenobiotic stimulus. Phenotypic associations include abnormal sporulation efficiency, absent spore germination, increased hydrostatic pressure and alkaline pH resistance, decreased endocytosis rate, delayed mitophagy and meiosis, increased entry into G0 phase, decreased cell fusion and necrotic cell death, and increased pheromone sensitivity. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to calcium and acid sensitivity, potassium concentration, oxidative stress response, and altered virulence.