SPA2 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MoSPA2 (MGG_03703) on chromosome 4 of Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes a GIT Spa2 homology (SHD) domain-containing protein with MAP kinase scaffold activity. The gene is associated with actin cytoskeleton organization, including actin depolymerization, nucleation, and polymerization, as well as septin ring organization, microtubule assembly, and cell polarization. It is linked to key developmental and pathogenic processes such as hyphal growth, pseudohyphal growth, invasive growth, asexual reproduction, bipolar bud site selection, and host invasion. Localization evidence connects MoSPA2 to the cell cortex of growing cell tips, sites of polarized growth, cellular bud tips and necks, the division septum, the actomyosin contractile ring, and mating projection tips. The gene is also associated with pigmentation and chitin anabolism. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pathogenicity.