ATG9 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU02422, designated NcATG9 (synonyms ATG9, ATGI) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 7, encodes a protein of the autophagy-related protein 9 family with phospholipid scramblase activity. The gene is associated with macroautophagy, mitophagy, ER-phagy, and pexophagy, as well as lipid transport and protein localization to the phagophore assembly site (PAS). The product localizes to the phagophore, PAS membrane, cytoplasmic vesicle membrane, vacuolar membrane, Golgi membrane, ER membrane, and mitochondria. NcATG9 has been linked to decreased rates of autophagy and pexophagy, delayed cell cycle progression and cytokinesis, absent cell cycle progression, delayed vegetative growth, abnormal nucleophagy and prion inheritance, absent innate thermotolerance, decreased endocytosis, and increased nutrient uptake. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity.