MEI4 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MoMEI4 (MGG_06422) on chromosome 4 of Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes a forkhead transcription factor with both DNA-binding transcription activator and repressor activity specific to RNA polymerase II. The gene is associated with entry into the meiotic cell cycle, regulation of cell cycle switching between mitosis and meiosis, appressorium formation, division septum assembly, nuclear movement, mitotic exit, cytokinesis, and filamentous growth. It is also linked to positive regulation of ribosomal protein gene transcription and negative regulation of pseudohyphal growth and transcription by RNA polymerase II. The product localizes to chromatin and the nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity, though this is not established for MoMEI4 itself.