PEP1 — Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

AFU8G02780, designated PEP1 and also known as VPS10, encodes a VPS10-sortilin family protein with transmembrane signaling receptor activity. In Aspergillus fumigatus, this gene is associated with vacuolar protein sorting, TGN-to-endosome transport, Golgi-to-vacuole transport, secretion, digestion, proteolysis, and protein breakdown. The product localizes to the late endosome, Golgi complex, membrane, and cytosol. Phenotypic associations link PEP1 to abnormal sporulation efficiency, sterility, altered cell death (both increased and decreased), delayed autophagy, decreased ribophagy and mitophagy, absent pheromone sensitivity and shmoo formation, decreased cell fusion, abnormal vacuolar transport and protein secretion, and decreased utilization of phosphorus sources. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to oxidative stress response.