CEK1 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FgCEK1 (FGRAMPH1_01G20181) on chromosome 3 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase with serine/threonine kinase activity and ATP binding, belonging to the ERK1 family. This gene is associated with the MAPK cascade, intracellular signal transduction, and multiple developmental and pathogenic processes, including invasive hyphae formation, appressorium formation, conidia formation, pheromone response, parasexual conjugation, and disruption of host phagocytosis. It is linked to cell wall modification and biogenesis, septin ring assembly, and regulation of filamentous growth in response to starvation and biotic stimuli. Phenotypic associations include abnormal biofilm formation, absent mating efficiency, abnormal pheromone-induced cell cycle arrest, and altered cell cycle progression. The gene product localizes to both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence and pathogenicity traits.