RAC1 — Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici 4287

Summary

FoRAC1 (FOXG_09453) on chromosome 9 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici 4287 encodes a small GTPase of the Rho family, specifically a Cdc42-type protein, with GTPase activity, GTP and GDP binding, protein serine/threonine kinase activator activity, and signaling adaptor activity. The gene is associated with the regulation of cell morphogenesis, bipolar cell growth, budding-to-filamentous growth switching, septin ring organization, cell wall modification, and positive regulation of 1,3-beta-D-glucan biosynthetic processes. It localizes to the hyphal tip polarisome, Spitzenkörper, exocytic vesicles, and the 1,3-beta-glucan synthase complex. Phenotypic associations include abnormal filamentous growth, decreased cytokinesis rate, delayed sporulation, absent osmotic stress resistance, and decreased cell death. Related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence.