BEM1 — Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c

Summary

YBR200W (BEM1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c on chromosome II encodes a protein containing SH3, PX and PB1 domains that binds phosphoinositides and mediates protein bridging. BEM1 is associated with cell polarization, mating projection assembly, karyogamy, vacuole fusion, the MAPK cascade, pheromone response, invasive growth, ER inheritance, protein kinase A activation, and response to peptide. It localizes to cortical dynamic polarity patches, the mating projection tip, cell tip, cell division site, cytoplasm, cytosol and nucleus. The gene is linked to traits including potassium concentration, acid sensitivity and oxidative stress. Phenotypes associated with BEM1 include absent budding and shmoo formation, decreased mating efficiency, abnormal cell shape, increased cell size, decreased hyperosmotic and oxidative stress resistance, and decreased innate thermotolerance. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to the Cdc42 GTPase complex.