Ste12 — Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

Summary

FOZG_04090 (Ste12) in Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 encodes a transcription factor that binds sequence-specific DNA and regulates RNA polymerase II transcription. The gene is associated with mating, sporocarp development involved in sexual reproduction, response to starvation, and regulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. It is linked to both positive and negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, and localises to the nucleus, chromatin, membrane, and protein complexes including Tec1p-Ste12p-Dig1p and Ste12p-Dig1p-Dig2p. Studies of related genes in other species link the Ste12 family to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence, though this has not been established in Fo47.