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A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts
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Phylogenetic Studies on the Prodigiosin Biosynthetic Operon
Aarti Ravindran1, Shruthi Sunderrajan2, Gautam Pennathur3
1Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 025, India.
Current Microbiology
|March 18, 2019
Summary
Prodigiosin and undecylprodigiosin are bacterial pigments. Gene analysis reveals prodigiosin operons are ancient, while undecylprodigiosin operons may have evolved convergently.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prodigiosin and undecylprodigiosin are red, tripyrrolix antibiotics produced by bacteria.
- Prodigiosin is synthesized by Gammaproteobacteria (e.g., Serratia), while undecylprodigiosin is produced by Streptomyces.
- Biosynthesis involves L-proline, 2-octenal, and malonyl-CoA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the genetic distribution of prodigiosin and undecylprodigiosin biosynthesis pathways.
- To investigate the evolutionary origins and mechanisms of these antibiotic gene clusters.
Main Methods:
- Sequence analysis of genes involved in prodigiosin and undecylprodigiosin biosynthesis.
- Comparative genomics to identify gene distribution across bacterial species.
- Analysis of operon structure, promoter regions, and gene cluster homology.
Main Results:
- Prodigiosin operons are conserved in clustered bacterial branches, suggesting common ancestry and vertical inheritance.
- Analysis of Serratia marcescens strains showed high homology in prodigiosin operon promoters with identifiable regulatory elements.
- Undecylprodigiosin gene clusters in Streptomyces exhibit homology to other antibiotic clusters, suggesting potential lateral gene transfer and convergent evolution.
Conclusions:
- The prodigiosin pathway appears to be ancient and vertically inherited.
- The evolution of the undecylprodigiosin operon may represent a case of convergent evolution, potentially involving lateral gene transfer.
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