Integrating phylogeny, geographic niche partitioning and secondary metabolite synthesis in bloom-forming Planktothrix.

ABSTRACT: Toxic freshwater cyanobacteria form harmful algal blooms that can cause acute toxicity to humans and livestock. Globally distributed, bloom-forming cyanobacteria Planktothrix either retain or lose the mcy gene cluster (encoding the synthesis of the secondary metabolite hepatotoxin microcystin or MC), resulting in a variable spatial/temporal distribution of (non)toxic genotypes. Despite their importance to human well-being, such genotype diversity is not being mapped at scales relevant to nature. We aimed to reveal the factors influencing the dispersal of those genotypes by analyzing 138 strains (from Europe, Russia, North America and East Africa) for their (i) mcy gene cluster composition, (ii) phylogeny and adaptation to their habitat and (iii) ribosomally and nonribosomally synthesized o

SUBMITTER: Kurmayer R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4349496 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature