CHS1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU04251 (CHS1, also known as chs-3) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5 encodes a chitin synthase with chitin synthase activity (EC 2.4.1.16), containing chitin synthase N-terminal and core domains. The gene is associated with cell septum assembly, septum positioning, ascospore wall assembly, septum digestion after cytokinesis, cell wall biogenesis, chitin anabolism, ascospore and conidia formation, cell wall organization, hyphal growth, and morphogenesis. It localizes to the chitosome, hyphal tip, cross wall, cell periphery, and plasmalemma. Phenotypic associations include absent septum formation, abnormal lifespan, decreased flocculation, absent cell fusion, abnormal bipolar budding, abnormal vesicle distribution, arrested late anaphase, decreased adhesion and cell death, abnormal entry into G0, absent budding, delayed M phase progression, abnormal chitin deposition, decreased chromosome segregation, increased pheromone sensitivity, abnormal spore wall formation, and increased respiratory and fermentative metabolism. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to septum formation and vegetative growth.