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Diversity and evolution of the phenazine biosynthesis pathway
Dmitri V Mavrodi1, Tobin L Peever, Olga V Mavrodi
1Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6430, USA. mavrodi@mail.wsu.edu
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|December 17, 2009
Summary
This study reveals the diverse distribution and evolution of bacterial phenazine genes across various genera. It highlights soil bacteria as key phenazine producers, with implications for plant health and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Genetics
- Plant Pathology
Background:
- Phenazines are bacterial secondary metabolites crucial for biological control of plant pathogens.
- These compounds influence bacterial ecological fitness and pathogenicity.
- Understanding phenazine gene distribution and evolution is vital for agricultural applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and evolution of phenazine biosynthesis genes (phzF) in bacterial genera.
- To analyze phenazine gene diversity in soil-dwelling and plant-associated bacteria.
- To identify phenazine producers in United States agricultural soils.
Main Methods:
- Genome analysis of 94 bacterial strains from diverse origins (Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Pectobacterium, Brevibacterium, Streptomyces).
- Phylogenetic analysis using phenazine biosynthesis (phzF) and housekeeping genes (rrs, recA, rpoB, atpD, gyrB).
- Screening of DNA from cereal crop rhizospheres for the presence of phzF genes.
Main Results:
- Confirmed diverse phenazine producers, predominantly soil-dwelling and plant-associated bacteria.
- Phenazine gene evolution varies: conserved in Pseudomonas, horizontal gene transfer in Burkholderia and Pectobacterium.
- Identified diverse phenazine producers in Washington state agricultural soils, indicating enriched US soils.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial phenazine genes exhibit diverse evolutionary trajectories, including horizontal gene transfer.
- Soil and plant-associated bacteria are significant reservoirs of phenazine-producing capabilities.
- The discovery in US soils provides evidence of indigenous, diverse phenazine-producing bacterial populations.
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