AKUA — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU08290 (AKUA) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 4 encodes a Ku70 family protein with KU70_core_dom, Ku_C, Ku_N, SAP and vWFA domains, and is annotated as an ATP-dependent DNA helicase (EC 3.6.4.12) with telomeric repeat binding, damaged DNA binding, and 3'-5' DNA helicase activity. The gene is associated with non-homologous end joining, replication fork processing, stalled replication fork localization to the nuclear periphery, telomere maintenance, DNA recombination and replication. It localizes to the Ku70:Ku80 complex, subtelomeres, heterochromatin, centric heterochromatin, and sites of double-strand breaks. Phenotypic associations include increased thermotolerance, increased gamma ray resistance, decreased chemical resistance, abnormal sporulation and mating response, delayed vegetative growth and vacuolar transport, increased G1/S and S phase progression, and premature chromosome segregation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to telomere maintenance and DNA repair pathways.