SSK1 — Verticillium dahliae

Summary

VdSSK1 (VDAG_04946) in Verticillium dahliae encodes a protein with a two-component system histidine kinase domain, a signal transduction response regulator receiver domain, and a CheY-like superfamily domain, and has phosphorelay sensor kinase activity, protein kinase activator activity, phosphorelay response regulator activity, and ATP binding. The gene is associated with regulation of filamentous growth, cellular responses to neutral pH, starvation, heat, and oxidative stress, as well as osmolarity sensing via the two-component system, activation of the p38 cascade, histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay, melanin anabolism, fungal-type cell wall organization, immune evasion, and negative regulation of mitotic entry. The encoded protein localizes to the cytoplasm, cytosol, cell tip, cell division site, and the Mcs4 RR-MAPKKK complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to virulence traits including loss of pathogenicity, reduced virulence, and hypervirulence, as well as oxidative stress response and germination rate.