VEL — Verticillium dahliae

Summary

VDAG_05856, designated VdVEL in Verticillium dahliae, encodes a protein serine/threonine kinase with histone H2BS14 kinase activity, functioning as a MAPKKKK that also exhibits lipid binding and ATP binding. The protein contains PAK3-like, CRIB, PH, and protein kinase domains. VdVEL is associated with regulation of the MAPK cascade, osmosensory signaling via the Sho1 osmosensor, cell integrity MAPK cascade, filamentous growth signal transduction, development of symbiont in host, negative regulation of sterol import, chlamydospore formation, cellular response to hydrogen peroxide, and upregulation of apoptosis. It localizes to the membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, incipient cellular bud site, and mating projection tip. The gene is linked to vascular wilt in Gossypium hirsutum and Verticillium dahliae. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to invasive aspergillosis, candidiasis, and corn smut.