RAC1 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPAC110.03 (RAC1, also known as cdc42) on chromosome 1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a small GTPase of the Rho family with GTPase activity, GDP and GTP binding, protein ser/thr kinase activator activity, and signaling adaptor activity. The gene is associated with cell junction assembly, monopolar and bipolar cell growth, midbody abscission, cell migration, regulation of endocytic recycling, exocyst localization, secretion, and regulation of beta-glucan anabolism. It localizes to the exocytic vesicle, hyphal tip polarisome, 1,3-beta-glucan synthase complex, cleavage furrow, and septin ring. Phenotypic associations include altered osmotic stress resistance, cytokinesis rate, cell cycle progression, sporulation, mating efficiency, filamentous growth, shmoo formation, nuclear size, and plasma membrane morphology. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence and pathogenicity.