AREA — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MGG_02755 (AREA, also known as NUT1) in Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes a GATA transcription factor with DNA-binding transcription activator and repressor activity, and is localized to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell division site. The gene is associated with nitrate assimilation, regulation of nitrogen utilization, response to starvation, appressorium formation, sporulation, invasive growth, and morphogenesis. It is linked to abnormal spore germination, increased pexophagy, increased hydrostatic pressure resistance, increased entry into G0 phase, increased X-ray resistance, increased alkaline pH resistance, increased pseudohyphal growth, increased osmotic stress resistance, decreased apoptosis, and altered cell cycle progression. Associations with rice blast disease and barley are also noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to nitrate transport and nitrogen content.