ERG25 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU8G02440, designated AfERG25 or ERG25, encodes a protein with a sterol desaturase-related domain and fatty acid hydroxylase domain, annotated with sphingolipid delta-4 desaturase activity, sphingolipid C4-monooxygenase activity, 4-methylsterol oxidase activity, iron binding and redox activity. The gene is associated with ergosterol and sphingolipid biosynthesis, sterol homeostasis, demethylation, MIPC metabolism, and mating. The encoded protein localises to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Loss of protein activity is associated with abnormal plasma membrane morphology, decreased necrotic cell death, delayed cell cycle progression, decreased shmoo formation, decreased spore germination, arrested or abnormal vegetative growth, decreased invasive growth, decreased mating efficiency, increased apoptosis and cell death, decreased nutrient uptake and respiratory metabolism, and increased biofilm formation. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to C-4 methylsterol oxidase function and, in one instance, unaffected pathogenicity.