BYR1 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FGRAMPH1_01G06799 (BYR1, also known as STE7) on chromosome 1 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) with dual-specificity protein kinase activity, belonging to the Byr1-like catalytic and Ser/Thr kinase domain families. The gene is associated with the regulation of ascospore and appressorium formation, sexual reproduction, filamentous growth, the cell integrity MAPK cascade, the p38 cascade, the cellular HOG and osmotic response, invasive growth under glucose limitation, and positive regulation of mitotic entry and calcium-mediated signaling. Its product localises to the cytoplasm, nucleus, cell tip, division septum, mating projection tip, and the Mcs4 RR-MAPKKK complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pathogenicity and virulence, including associations with reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity.