VELB — Aspergillus nidulans FGSC A4

Summary

ANIA_00363 (VELB, velB) on Aspergillus nidulans chromosome 8 encodes a Velvet domain-containing protein, a member of the Velvet family that includes the Velvet domain superfamily. The gene is associated with a wide range of biological processes, including PR-toxin anabolism, carotenoid anabolism, pigmentation, and cellular response to light stimulus. It is linked to both asexual and sexual sporulation, specifically negative regulation of conidium formation and positive regulation of sexual sporulation, as well as fruiting body formation, spore wall assembly, and stem cell differentiation. VELB is also associated with mycose biosynthesis, chitin metabolism, and positive regulation of sterigmatocystin biosynthetic process. The protein localises to both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Additionally, VELB is associated with sporogenesis and oxidative stress response. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and diseases such as fusarium head blight and rice blast.