BEM1 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPAC22H10.07 (symbol BEM1, also known as scd2) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a protein with SH3, PX, PB1 and EF-hand domains that binds phosphoinositides and mediates protein bridging. This gene is associated with cell polarity establishment, mating, conjugation, cytokinesis, sporulation, spore germination, morphogenesis, MAPK cascade signalling, protein kinase A activation, cell cycle control, dehiscence, appressorium formation, and protein positioning. It localises to cortical dynamic polarity patches, cell tips, mating projection tips, cell division sites, cytoplasm, cytosol and nucleus. Phenotypic associations include absent cell fusion and mating efficiency, delayed nuclear fusion, decreased cytokinesis rate, abnormal pheromone production and sensitivity, increased shmoo formation, premature G2/M transition, decreased spore germination, and abnormal lifespan, redox state, ER and Golgi distribution, vacuolar morphology, prion inheritance, chromosome segregation, and protein secretion and transport. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to Cdc42 GTPase complex localisation and oxidative stress response.