sxa1 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPAC26A3.01 (sxa1) on chromosome 1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes an aspartic peptidase A1 family protein with aspartic endopeptidase activity (EC 3.4.23.-) and metal binding. The gene is associated with proteolysis, protein processing, and fungal-type cell wall organization. It is linked to mating, adhesion of symbiont to host, perturbation of host immune response, and transepithelial migration of symbiont in host. The product localizes to the perinuclear ER membrane, extracellular vesicle, fungal-type cell wall, external side of plasma membrane, and extracellular. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence phenotypes including hypervirulence, reduced virulence, and loss of pathogenicity, as well as associations with candidiasis in mammalian hosts.