CHS5 — Aspergillus nidulans FGSC A4

Summary

ANIA_06318 (CHS5, AnCHS5) on chromosome 1 of Aspergillus nidulans FGSC A4 encodes a protein with chitin synthase activity (EC 2.4.1.16) and cytoskeletal motor activity, containing domains including a myosin head motor domain, chitin synthase domain, and cytochrome b5-like heme/steroid-binding domain. The gene is associated with chitin anabolism, fungal-type cell wall organization, hyphal growth, cell tip growth, conidiophore development, asexual sporulation, ascospore formation, and cellular osmotic response. Its product localizes to the hyphal tip, cross wall, cell periphery, cell tip, plasma membrane, and myosin complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the CHS5 family to reduced virulence and associations with diseases such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and phaeohyphomycosis, as well as plant pathogens including Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum.