Evolution of maltose transporter genes in Thermococcales and Thermotogales
Author Information
Author(s): Noll Kenneth M, Lapierre Pascal, Gogarten J Peter, Nanavati Dhaval M
Primary Institution: University of Connecticut
Hypothesis
We examined deep phylogenetic relationships among the mal genes of hyperthermophiles to look for evidence of shared ancestry.
Conclusion
The study shows that the maltose transporter operons in Thermococcales and Thermotogales evolved independently from different bacterial lineages.
Supporting Evidence
- The mal genes in Thermococcus litoralis and Pyrococcus furiosus are closely related to bacterial mal genes.
- Thermotoga maritima has two mal operons that are phylogenetically similar to those found in enteric bacteria.
- A third mal operon was discovered in some Thermotogales species, which is more closely related to the mal operons of Thermococcales.
Takeaway
Scientists studied how certain genes that help transport sugar evolved in two groups of heat-loving microbes, finding that they came from different ancestors.
Methodology
Phylogenetic analysis of mal and mdx operons using genome sequence data from various species.
Limitations
The study does not provide evidence of recent horizontal gene transfer between the Thermococcales and Thermotogales.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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