ZRFA — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU07621 (ZRFA, tzn-1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 4 encodes a member of the ZIP family of metal transporters, with high-affinity zinc transmembrane transporter activity and zinc binding capacity. It is associated with zinc transport, import, and cellular zinc ion homeostasis, and localises to both the ER membrane and plasmalemma. The gene is linked to numerous phenotypes including abnormal sporulation efficiency, delayed sporulation, absent spore germination, increased pseudohyphal growth, decreased apoptosis, increased mitophagy, altered cell cycle progression, decreased meiotic recombination, decreased radiation resistance, increased desiccation resistance, and altered iron concentration and utilisation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to normal vegetative growth and unaffected pathogenicity.