SOK2 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU01414 (SOK2, Asm-1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5 encodes a transcription factor of the APSES-type HTH family, related to EFG1/Phd1/StuA, with sequence-specific DNA binding activity. The gene is associated with sexual sporulation, ascospore formation, conidiophore development, conidia formation, melanin anabolism, meiosis, regeneration, post-transcriptional gene silencing, cell cycle, and positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. It localises to the nucleus. Phenotypic associations include altered mating type switching, flocculation, biofilm formation, filamentous growth, pseudohyphal growth, fermentative and respiratory metabolism, adhesion, freeze-thaw resistance, acid pH resistance, cell cycle progression, budding, nuclear fusion and spindle pole body positioning. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence.