MIT1 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPAC1751.01C (MIT1, gti1) on chromosome 1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a Gti1/Pac2 family protein with sequence-specific DNA binding and transcription factor activity. The gene is associated with diverse biological processes including constitutive heterochromatin assembly, chromatin silencing, post-transcriptional gene silencing, demethylation, nucleosome organization, and regulation of phenotypic switching, conjugation, biofilm formation, and symbiotic interactions. It is linked to responses to glucose and starvation, sexual reproduction, cell adhesion, and parasexual conjugation. The product localizes to the nucleus, chromatin, cytosol, and mitotic spindle pole body. Phenotypic associations include abnormal nuclear transport, cell cycle arrest and S-phase delay, altered vegetative and respiratory growth, increased flocculation, decreased biofilm formation, increased mutation frequency, altered colony morphology, and increased innate thermotolerance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence and pathogenicity traits.