ERF1 — Verticillium dahliae

Summary

VDAG_05953 (VdERF1) encodes eukaryotic peptide chain release factor subunit 1, a protein with translation release factor activity, peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase activity, and GTPase regulator activity. In Verticillium dahliae, VdERF1 is associated with cytoplasmic translational termination, defense response, cell death, and phenylpropanoid anabolism. The protein localizes to the cytoplasm, cytosol, stress granules, and the translation release factor complex. VdERF1 is linked to numerous phenotypes including abnormal filamentous growth, increased vegetative growth rate, increased starvation resistance, increased alkaline and acid pH resistance, increased desiccation resistance, increased autophagy, increased protein secretion, absent adhesion, absent endocytosis, absent anaerobic growth, delayed cell cycle progression, and abnormal cell wall morphology. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pathogenicity, though this has not been established for VdERF1 itself.