ATG6 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MoATG6 (MGG_03694) on chromosome 4 of Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes a Beclin-1 protein containing Atg6/Beclin domains. The gene product binds PI3K and mediates protein bridging. MoATG6 is associated with autophagy regulation, macroautophagy, mitophagy, pexophagy, and autophagic cell death, as well as phosphatidylinositol and PIP biosynthesis, appressorium formation, ascus development, and responses to nitrogen and potassium starvation. It localises to the phagophore assembly site, endosome membranes, and class III PI3K complexes. The gene is linked to rice blast disease, and associations include turgor pressure, germination rate, protein content, and numerous phenotypes such as abnormal autophagy, mitophagy, spore germination, filamentous growth, cell cycle progression, and protein transport. Studies of related genes in other species connect it to phosphate content and decreased thermotolerance.