ATG9 — Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Summary

FgATG9 (FGRAMPH1_01G26133) on chromosome 4 of Fusarium graminearum PH-1 encodes a member of the autophagy-related protein 9 family with phospholipid scramblase activity. The gene is associated with autophagy, macroautophagy, mitophagy, ER-phagy, and adiposome disassembly, as well as response to carbon starvation, lipid transport, and cellular homeostasis. It localises to the phagophore, pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS), and membranes of the ER, Golgi, vacuole, and mitochondria. Phenotypic associations include abnormal autophagy, absent cytokinesis, arrested vegetative growth, decreased invasive growth, increased apoptosis, and altered cell cycle progression. The gene is also linked to perithecium formation, sporulation, morphogenesis, and decreased nitrogen source utilisation. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to reduced virulence, loss of pathogenicity, and decreased sporulation efficiency.