ATF1 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MoATF1 (MGG_08212) from Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes a bZIP transcription factor with DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific, and also binds recombination hotspots, nucleosomes, and dsDNA. The gene is associated with appressorium formation, host invasion, and defense response, as well as reciprocal meiotic recombination, suppression of meiotic recombination, and activation of reciprocal meiotic recombination. It is linked to nitrogen utilization, cellular response to hydrogen peroxide, oxidative stress response, and negative regulation of adenylate cyclase-activating glucose-activated G protein-coupled receptor signaling. MoATF1 localizes to the nucleus, chromatin, and heterochromatin, and is part of the Atf1-Pcr1 complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to increased virulence and calcium sensitivity.