NUC1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU00030 (NUC1) in Neurospora crassa chromosome 3 encodes a non-specific endonuclease with DNA and RNA endonuclease activity, belonging to the His-Me finger superfamily and the ENPP1-3/EXOG-like nuclease family. The gene is associated with apoptotic DNA fragmentation, mating type switching, meiosis, autophagy, cell death, and DNA repair. It localises to the mitochondrial inner membrane, mitochondria, nucleus, and extracellular space. Phenotypic associations link NUC1 to increased necrotic and apoptotic cell death, increased polyploidy, abnormal chromosome segregation, increased flocculation, decreased colony size and exponential-phase growth, altered respiratory and fermentative metabolism, abnormal redox state, defective mitochondrial genome maintenance, and petite-negative status. The gene is also connected to RNA accumulation and silencing defects, abnormal cell wall and plasma membrane morphology, and altered nuclear import. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to decreased mutation frequency.