Widespread occurrence and lateral transfer of the cyanobactin biosynthesis gene cluster in cyanobacteria.

ABSTRACT: Cyanobactins are small cyclic peptides produced by cyanobacteria. Here we demonstrate the widespread but sporadic occurrence of the cyanobactin biosynthetic pathway. We detected a cyanobactin biosynthetic gene in 48 of the 132 strains included in this study. Our results suggest that cyanobactin biosynthetic genes have a complex evolutionary history in cyanobacteria punctuated by a series of ancient horizontal gene transfer events.

SUBMITTER: Leikoski N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2632131 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature