bni1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU01431, the bni1 gene on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5, encodes a formin-family protein containing FH2, FH3, GTPase-binding, DAD, and ARM-like domains, and is annotated with SH3 domain, F-BAR domain, cytoskeletal protein, F-actin, and small GTPase binding activities. The gene is associated with numerous cellular processes including actin filament bundle organization and assembly, barbed-end actin filament capping, actin polymerization, cell polarization, establishment or maintenance of bipolar cell polarity, regulation of cell shape, cytogamy, actin fusion focus formation, protein localization to and assembly of the mitotic actomyosin contractile ring, Golgi localization, cellular bud site selection, filamentous growth in response to chemical stimulus, septum digestion after cytokinesis, and cellular response to stress. The product localizes to the Spitzenkörper, mating projection, cell cortex of growing cell tip, cellular bud neck split septin rings, medial cortex septin ring, actomyosin contractile ring proximal layer, neck ring, midsome, and mating projection actin fusion focus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cytokinesis and polarized growth.