21397712
not annotated - annotated - LINNAEUS only
Npc1 is involved in sterol trafficking in the filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum.
The ortholog of the human gene NPC1 was identified in the plant pathogenic, filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum by shared amino acid sequence, protein domain structure and cellular localization of the mature fungal protein. The FusariumNpc1 gene shares 34% amino acid sequence identity and 51% similarity to the human gene, has similar domain structure and is constitutively expressed, although up-regulated in ungerminated macroconidia and ascospores. GFP-tagged Npc1p localizes to the fungal vacuolar membrane. Cultures derived from a Deltanpc1 mutant strain contain significantly more ergosterol than cultures of the wildtype. Staining with the fluorescent, sterol binding dye filipin, shows that ergosterol accumulates in vacuoles of the Deltanpc1 mutant but not the wildtype strain. The Deltanpc1 mutant has a temperature dependent reduction in growth and greater sensitivity to the ergosterol synthesis inhibiting fungicide tebuconazole compared with the wildtype strain or the mutant complemented with wildtype Npc1. The mutant also is significantly reduced in pathogenicity to wheat. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that Npc1p is important for normal transport of ergosterol from the vacuole and is essential for proper membrane function under particular environmental conditions.
Ann file
T1 Species 65 85 Fusarium graminearum
N1 Reference T1 Taxonomy:5518
T2 Species 109 114 human
N2 Reference T2 Taxonomy:9606
T3 Species 184 204 Fusarium graminearum
N3 Reference T3 Taxonomy:5518
T4 Species 405 410 human
N4 Reference T4 Taxonomy:9606
T5 Species 1178 1183 wheat
N5 Reference T5 Taxonomy:4565