CDC3 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU7G05370 (CDC3, aspB) in Aspergillus fumigatus encodes the septin AspB, a structural constituent of the cytoskeleton with GTPase activity and phosphatidylinositol binding. This gene is associated with cytokinesis, including septin ring assembly and disassembly, contractile ring assembly, and division septum formation. It is linked to cell polarity maintenance, chitin localization, ER polarization, and hyphal growth. The gene has been connected to chlamydospore formation, adhesion to host, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in model systems. Phenotypic associations include abnormal cell cycle progression, increased aneuploidy, altered colony shape, and decreased cell fusion. Related genes in other species have been linked to reduced virulence.