OS-4 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FgOS-4 (FGRAMPH1_01G01069) on chromosome 1 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) of the Ssk2/Ssk22 family with MEKK activity, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, and ATP binding. The gene is associated with stress-activated MAPK cascades, including the p38 and cell integrity MAPK cascades, as well as conidia formation, hyphal growth, spore formation, ergosterol anabolism, contractile ring assembly, and fungal-type cell wall organization. It localizes to the division septum, cell tip, cell division site, cytoplasm, and the Mcs4 RR-MAPKKK complex. Phenotypic associations include absent osmotic stress resistance, decreased cell cycle progression, abnormal bipolar budding, absent innate thermotolerance, and sterility. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity.