We report the characterization of the gene UMAG_00031 from Ustilago maydis, previously identified as upregulated at alkaline pH. This gene is located on chromosome 1 and contains an ORF of 1539 bp that encodes a putative protein of 512 amino acids with an MW of 54.8 kDa. The protein is predicted to contain seven transmembrane domains (TMDs) and a signal peptide suggesting that is located in the cell membrane. Null ΔUMAG_00031 mutants were constructed, and their phenotype was analyzed. The mutant displayed a pleiotropic phenotype suggesting its participation in processes of alkaline pH adaptation independent of the Pal/Rim pathway. Also, it was involved in the dimorphic process induced by fatty acids. These results indicate that the protein encoded by the UMAG_00031 gene possibly functions as a receptor of different signals in the cell membrane of the fungus.

中文翻译：

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Ustilago maydis 的 UMAG_00031 基因编码一种假定的膜蛋白，参与 pH 控制和形态发生

我们报告了来自玉米黑粉菌的基因 UMAG_00031 的特征，之前被鉴定为在碱性 pH 下上调。该基因位于 1 号染色体上，包含一个 1539 bp 的 ORF，编码 512 个氨基酸的推定蛋白质，分子量为 54.8 kDa。预计该蛋白质包含七个跨膜结构域 (TMD) 和一个信号肽，表明其位于细胞膜中。构建了空 ΔUMAG_00031 突变体，并分析了它们的表型。该突变体表现出多效性表型，表明其参与了独立于 Pal/Rim 通路的碱性 pH 适应过程。此外，它参与了脂肪酸诱导的二态过程。