ACP1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU6G10060, designated ACP1 in Aspergillus fumigatus, encodes a protein with F-actin binding and domains of the CapZ alpha family. The gene is associated with barbed-end actin filament capping, actin fusion focus formation, actin cortical patch organization, and mitotic actomyosin contractile ring assembly and contraction. Its product localizes to the F-actin capping protein complex, cortical and actin cytoskeletons, cellular bud tip, cell division site, and actin patches. ACP1 is linked to numerous phenotypes including absent filamentous growth and cytokinesis, decreased bipolar budding, abnormal cell cycle progression, increased survival in stationary phase, decreased acquired thermotolerance, and altered prion inheritance, endocytosis, and protein secretion. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to reduced virulence, abnormal budding patterns, and decreased autophagy.