WETA — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU01033 (symbol WETA, preferred name NcWETA) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5 encodes a developmental regulatory protein, based on sequence similarity to related genes in other species. The gene is associated with asexual spore wall assembly, positive regulation of conidium formation, conidia formation, and spore formation, as well as pigment anabolism and mycose biosynthesis. It is also linked to regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, and DNA-dependent transcription. Studies of related genes in other fungi link the WETA family to reduced virulence and unaffected pathogenicity, and to associations with Fusarium head blight and hosts including Galleria mellonella, Triticum aestivum, Verticillium dahliae, and various Fusarium species.