Bacterial and fungal chitinase chiJ orthologs evolve under different selective constraints following horizontal gene transfer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Certain bacteria from the genus Streptomyces are currently used as biological control agents against plant pathogenic fungi. Hydrolytic enzymes that degrade fungal cell wall components, such as chitinases, are suggested as one possible mechanism in biocontrol interactions. Adaptive evolution of chitinases are previously reported for plant chitinases involved in defence against fungal pathogens, and in fungal chitinases involved in fungal-fungal interactions. In this study we investigated the molecular evolution of chitinase chiJ in the bacterial genus Streptomyces. In addition, as chiJ orthologs are previously reported in certain fungal species as a result from horizontal gene transfer, we conducted a comparative study of differences in evolutionary patterns between bact

SUBMITTER: Ubhayasekera W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3506478 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature