RAC1 — Verticillium dahliae

Summary

VDAG_06361 (VdRAC1) in Verticillium dahliae encodes a small GTPase of the Cdc42/Rho family, possessing GTPase activity, GTP and GDP binding, protein kinase binding, and signaling adaptor activity. The gene is associated with the regulation of cell morphogenesis, including bipolar cell growth, budding-to-filamentous growth switching, and septin ring organization. It is linked to positive regulation of 1,3-beta-D-glucan biosynthetic processes and cell wall modification, and localizes to the hyphal tip polarisome, Spitzenkörper, and exocytic vesicles. Phenotypic associations include abnormal filamentous and pseudohyphal growth, delayed sporulation, altered cell cycle progression, decreased necrotic cell death, and absent osmotic stress resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence.