COT1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU03145 (COT1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 1 encodes a cation efflux family protein with zinc ion transmembrane transporter activity and zinc ion sequestering activity. The gene is associated with cellular zinc ion homeostasis, detoxification of zinc ions, and zinc ion import into the ER, Golgi lumen, and other organelles. It is linked to hyphal growth, polar cell growth, regulation of growth, cell differentiation, sporulation, MAPK cascade signaling, cell-cell signaling, protein methylation, translation elongation, and pH reduction. The product localizes to the ER membrane, Golgi membrane, fungal-type vacuole membrane, nuclear membrane, and cytoplasmic vesicles. Associations with phenotypes include increased ionic stress and UV resistance, abnormal cellular morphology and budding, altered sporulation, autophagy, endocytosis, protein transport, and decreased telomere length. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cobalt, zinc, and iron sensitivity.