title: Widespread occurrence and lateral transfer of the cyanobactin biosynthesis gene cluster in cyanobacteria.
abstract: Cyanobactins are small cyclic peptides produced by cyanobacteria. Here we demonstrate the widespread but sporadic occurrence of the cyanobactin biosynthetic pathway. We detected a cyanobactin biosynthetic gene in 48 of the 132 strains included in this study. Our results suggest that cyanobactin biosynthetic genes have a complex evolutionary history in cyanobacteria punctuated by a series of ancient horizontal gene transfer events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leikoski
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Fewer
authors.forename: Kaarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivonen
mesh_terms: D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D010456:Peptides, Cyclic