Evolution of the clusters of genes for beta-lactam antibiotics: a model for evolutive combinatorial assembly of new beta-lactams.
beta-Lactam antibiotics are produced by prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The genes for beta-lactam biosynthesis are organized in clusters but the location of the different genes is not identical. Biosynthesis genes are clustered with genes for resistance (bla, pbp) and for the efflux of the antibiotic (cmcT) in prokaryotes. Comparison of proteins reveals much larger differences for primary metabolism enzymes than for beta-lactam biosynthesis enzymes in producing organisms. This suggests a horizontal transfer of the beta-lactam antibiotic biosynthesis genes.
Liras
P
P
Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of León, Spain. degplp@unileon.es
Rodríguez-García
A
A
Martín
J F
JF
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000235:genetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D010453:Peptide Synthases / Q000235:genetics; D047090:beta-Lactams
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D010453:Peptide Synthases; C095368:alpha-aminoadipyl-cysteinyl-valine synthetase