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Evolutionary relationships among bacterial carbamoyltransferases.
C Tricot1, J L De Coen, P Momin
1Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
Journal of General Microbiology
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Immunological analysis of ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTCase) evolution in bacteria reveals distinct cross-reactivity patterns. Catabolic OTCases show broad cross-reactivity, aiding bacterial evolution studies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTCase) is a key enzyme in bacterial metabolism.
- Understanding the evolution of OTCases can provide insights into bacterial phylogeny.
- Immunological methods offer a way to probe protein similarities and evolutionary relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary history of ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTCase) in bacteria using an immunological approach.
- To differentiate between anabolic and catabolic forms of OTCase and their evolutionary divergence.
- To assess the phylogenetic relationships among bacterial species based on OTCase antigenicity.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of antisera against purified anabolic and catabolic OTCases from *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, *Aeromonas formicans*, and *Streptococcus faecalis*.
- Testing these antisera against unpurified anabolic and catabolic OTCases from 34 bacterial strains.
- Analysis of cross-reactivity patterns to infer evolutionary relationships and enzyme specificity.
Main Results:
- Extensive cross-reactions were observed between antisera to catabolic OTCases and enzymes from various bacterial species and genera.
- Antisera to catabolic OTCases cross-reacted with anabolic OTCases of Enterobacteriaceae but not other species.
- Cross-reactivity with anabolic OTCase from *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* aligned with proposed phylogenetic subdivisions of *Pseudomonas* and showed higher correlation with an archaeobacterial enzyme than other eubacterial OTCases.
Conclusions:
- Immunological analysis of OTCase provides valuable insights into bacterial evolution and phylogenetic relationships.
- Catabolic OTCases exhibit broader evolutionary conservation and cross-reactivity compared to anabolic forms.
- The study supports the use of immunological comparisons of anabolic OTCase for refining bacterial phylogenies, including relationships with archaea.