A nitrile hydratase in the eukaryote Monosiga brevicollis.
Bacterial nitrile hydratase (NHases) are important industrial catalysts and waste water remediation tools. In a global computational screening of conventional and metagenomic sequence data for NHases, we detected the two usually separated NHase subunits fused in one protein of the choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis, a recently sequenced unicellular model organism from the closest sister group of Metazoa. This is the first time that an NHase is found in eukaryotes and the first time it is observed as a fusion protein. The presence of an intron, subunit fusion and expressed sequence tags covering parts of the gene exclude contamination and suggest a functional gene. Phylogenetic analyses and genomic context imply a probable ancient horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from proteobacteria. The newly discovered NHase might open biotechnological routes due to its unconventional structure, its new type of host and its apparent integration into eukaryotic protein networks.
Foerstner
Konrad U
KU
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
Doerks
Tobias
T
Muller
Jean
J
Raes
Jeroen
J
Bork
Peer
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry
D021122:Protein Subunits; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C048831:nitrile hydratase