ATG9 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MGG_09559 (ATG9, MoATG9) on chromosome 3 of Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes an autophagy-related protein 9 with phospholipid scramblase activity. The gene is associated with autophagy, macroautophagy, mitophagy, ER-phagy, and pexophagy, as well as regulation of autophagy and protein phosphorylation. It is linked to appressorium formation, the MAPK cascade, and response to carbon starvation. The encoded protein localises to the phagophore, pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS), and membranes of the ER, Golgi, vacuole, and cytoplasmic vesicles. ATG9 is associated with rice blast disease and fusarium head blight in wheat. Phenotypic associations include decreased autophagy and pexophagy rates, delayed vegetative growth and cytokinesis, abnormal nucleophagy, and absent innate thermotolerance and UV resistance.