Module evolution and substrate specificity of fungal nonribosomal peptide synthetases involved in siderophore biosynthesis
2008

Evolution and Function of Fungal Siderophore Synthetases

Sample size: 49 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Bushley Kathryn E, Ripoll Daniel R, Turgeon B Gillian

Primary Institution: Cornell University

Hypothesis

Are there distinct lineages of ferrichrome synthetases in fungi?

Conclusion

Ferrichrome synthetases are restricted to certain fungi and evolved through domain loss and duplication.

Supporting Evidence

  • All filamentous ascomycetes queried contained at least one ferrichrome synthetase.
  • Phylogenetic analyses suggest that ferrichrome synthetases derive from an ancestral hexamodular gene.
  • Key residues in the adenylation domain pocket were identified as important for substrate choice.

Takeaway

Some fungi make special proteins to help them get iron from their environment, and these proteins have changed over time.

Methodology

Phylogenetic analysis of fungal genomes and protein modeling.

Limitations

The absence of certain genes in some fungi may be due to incomplete genome sequences.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2148-8-328

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