ERG2 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU04156 (ERG2, erg-1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5 encodes a C-8 sterol isomerase with isomerase activity, placing it in the ERG2_sigma1_rcpt-like family. The gene is associated with ergosterol, sterol and ceramide anabolism, carbon catabolite repression, cellular response to xenobiotic stimulus, and homeostasis. The product localises to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Phenotypic associations include abnormal autophagy, cell cycle arrest at G2/M, delayed shmoo formation, decreased cell fusion, absent mating response, increased cell death, abnormal vacuolar transport and cytoskeleton morphology, increased flocculation, decreased cold sensitivity, increased starvation resistance, and altered nutrient uptake and iron utilisation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence, cell membrane stability, germination rate, and responses to oxidative stress, zinc and acid.