FPHA — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU6G09260, designated FPHA (fphB), encodes a histidine kinase in Aspergillus fumigatus on chromosome 6. The product belongs to the phytochrome superfamily and possesses histidine phosphotransfer kinase, phosphorelay sensor kinase, and osmosensor activities, along with ATP and metal binding. FPHA is associated with the histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay, cellular HOG response, regulation of conidium formation, pigmentation, filamentous growth, biofilm formation on inanimate substrates, ascospore formation, and fungal-type cell wall biogenesis. It is linked to downregulation of phagocytosis and calcium-independent cell-cell adhesion, activation of the p38 cascade, and responses to farnesol and reactive oxygen species. The protein localizes to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cell tip, and cell division site. Related genes in other species are linked to virulence modulation, including reduced pathogenicity.