CEK1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU07378 (CEK1, also known as NcRIM15 or stk-12) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 1 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase of the AGC family, possessing protein serine/threonine kinase activity, ATP binding and identical protein binding. The gene is associated with positive regulation of mitotic entry involved in cellular response to nitrogen starvation, regulation of mitotic cytokinesis site selection, actomyosin organization, lipid raft organization, membrane biogenesis, RAM/MOR signaling, positive regulation of autophagy and filamentous growth, and cellular salinity response. It localizes to growing hyphal tips, cell cortex, cytoskeleton, bud sites and septa. Phenotypic associations include altered cell cycle progression (premature G2/M transition, delayed telophase, increased M phase duration), increased thermotolerance, decreased spore germination rate, abnormal respiratory metabolism, increased adhesion and pexophagy, and altered stress resistances (increased hydrostatic pressure and freeze-thaw resistance, absent hyperosmotic stress and desiccation resistance). Related genes in other species link the family to oxidative stress response.