KDX1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU09842 (KDX1, mak-1) on Neurospora crassa chromosome 5 encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase of the p38-like family, with ATP-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase activity (EC 2.7.11.24). The gene is associated with protoperithecium and fruiting body formation, cell-cell fusion and recognition, cell-cell signaling, the SAPK signaling pathway, regulation of melanin and chitin anabolism, pore formation, upregulation of calcium import and calcium-mediated signaling, upregulation of cell wall organization, cellular thermotolerance, and downregulation of mitotic cytokinesis. The product localizes to the mitotic spindle pole body, cell division site, cytoplasm, cytosol, and nucleus. Associations include decreased cell cycle progression rate, abnormal carbon source utilization, increased sporulation rate, decreased hypoosmotic stress resistance, increased thermotolerance, increased virulence, and abnormal aneuploidy. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to the cell integrity MAPK cascade and turgor pressure.