RAS1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU02167 (RAS1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 1 encodes a small GTPase of the Ras-type family with GTPase activity, GDP, GTP, CTP and UTP binding, and protein serine/threonine kinase activator activity. The gene is associated with Ras protein signal transduction, positive regulation of the pheromone response MAPK cascade, regulation of conjugation with cellular fusion, cytogamy, regulation of conidium formation, regulation of cell shape, and maintenance of protein location in the cell. It localizes to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, vacuolar membrane, cell cortex of the cell tip, cellular bud neck, division septum, and mating projection actin fusion focus. Phenotypic associations include absent bipolar budding pattern, decreased vacuolar transport rate, decreased redox state, increased mating type switching, decreased rate of entry into G0, absent osmotic and oxidative stress resistance, and delayed nuclear export. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and oxidative stress response.