THI2 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU06110 (THI2) in Neurospora crassa encodes a suicide thiamine thiazole synthase (EC 2.4.2.60) that belongs to the Thi4 family and contains a FAD/NAD-binding domain. The enzyme binds ferrous iron and is annotated to thiazole and thiamin biosynthesis. The gene product localises to both the cytosol and nucleus. THI2 is associated with a wide range of cellular and developmental phenotypes, including abnormal spindle pole body positioning, chromosome segregation defects, G2/M cell cycle arrest, increased apoptosis, abnormal nucleolar morphology and actin cytoskeleton, increased telomere length, colony sectoring, and inviability. It is also linked to altered toxin and chemical resistance, increased heat sensitivity, decreased competitive fitness, and reduced chemical compound accumulation. Studies of related genes in other species connect the THI2 family to oxidative stress response, increased mitochondrial rho- mutation frequency, and altered biofilm formation and fermentative metabolism.