VPS21 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FgVPS21 (FGRAMPH1_01G18071) on chromosome 3 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a small GTPase with GTP binding and GTPase activity, and is also annotated with protein kinase regulator activity. This gene is associated with a wide range of cellular processes, including endosome vesicle fusion, exocytosis, vesicle fusion, homotypic vacuole fusion, and multiple transport pathways such as endosome-to-plasma membrane, Golgi-to-plasma membrane, and retrograde endosome-to-Golgi transport. It is linked to TORC2 signaling, mitotic cytokinesis, membrane addition at the site of cytokinesis, ascospore-type prospore assembly, and protein localization to the PAS and meiotic spindle pole body. The encoded protein localizes to transport vesicle membranes, early and late endosomes, recycling endosomes, the cleavage furrow leading edge, and growing cell tips. Phenotypically, FgVPS21 is associated with abnormal vacuolar morphology and distribution, absent vacuolar transport, delayed endocytosis, abnormal filamentous growth, decreased cell death, and altered pheromone production and mating projection morphology.