SSK2 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU03071, also known as SSK2, os-4, or WIS4 in Neurospora crassa on chromosome 1, encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) of the Ssk2/Ssk22 family with MEKK activity and protein serine/threonine kinase activity. The gene is associated with multiple MAPK cascades, including stress-activated, JNK, p38, cell integrity, and pheromone response pathways, as well as glycerol anabolism, gluconeogenesis, conidia and spore formation, and fungal-type cell wall organization. It localizes to the Mcs4 RR-MAPKKK complex, division septum, cell tip, and plasmalemma. Phenotypic associations link SSK2 to osmotic stress resistance, cell cycle progression, cell fusion, shmoo formation, mating efficiency, thermotolerance, prion inheritance, and Golgi morphology. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to virulence and pathogenicity.