title: In Schizosaccharomyces pombe chs2p has no chitin synthase activity but is related to septum formation.
abstract: Chitin synthesis occurs in most fungi through the action of different chitin synthase (CS) isoenzymes. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe the chs2(+) gene codes for a protein with significant similarity to CS enzymes, but lacking most of the residues considered to be essential for activity, including the QRRRW domain. Here we show that chs2p is a functional protein that localises to the growing edge of the septum but is not a CS enzyme. Strong over-expression is lethal, while moderate expression leads to a severe defect in septum formation. These results suggest that chs2p has remained through evolution to play an alternative role in septation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica/Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Edificio Departamental, Room 231, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín-García
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: M-Henar
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Valdivieso
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016923:Cell Death; D002473:Cell Wall; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development