Was photosynthetic RuBisCO recruited by acquisitive evolution from RuBisCO-like proteins involved in sulfur metabolism?
Genome analyses have revealed that the genomes of non-photosynthetic bacteria including Bacillus subtilis code for proteins similar to the large subunit of RuBisCO (called RuBisCO-like protein (RLP)). This raises a fundamental question as to their functional relationship to photosynthetic RuBisCO. Recently, we identified the RLP of B. subtilis as the 2,3-diketo-5-methylthiopentyl-1-phosphate enolase in the methionine salvage pathway. In this mini-review, we suggest functional and evolutionary links between B. subtilis RLP and photosynthetic RuBisCO. Furthermore, we propose that photosynthetic RuBisCOs evolved from RLPs similar to that found in B. subtilis.
Ashida
Hiroki
H
Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101, Japan.
Danchin
Antoine
A
Yokota
Akiho
A
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000235:genetics*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
D013455:Sulfur; D008715:Methionine; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase