VPS35 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FgVPS35 (FGRAMPH1_01G06617) on chromosome 1 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a protein containing a Vps35_C domain. The gene is associated with vesicle formation, actin polymerization, retrograde transport from endosome to Golgi, intracellular protein transport, and ascospore formation, and its product localizes to late endosomes, endosomes, and cytosol. FgVPS35 is linked to numerous phenotypes including absent sporulation efficiency and fermentative growth, decreased spore germination rate, abnormal autophagy and endocytosis, increased ionic stress resistance, and abnormal septum and spore wall formation. Studies of related genes in other species indicate the family localizes to the retromer CSC and retromer complex, and sequence similarity links the family to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity.