title: Two origins for the gene encoding alpha-isopropylmalate synthase in fungi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The biosynthesis of leucine is a biochemical pathway common to prokaryotes, plants and fungi, but absent from humans and animals. The pathway is a proposed target for antimicrobial therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we identified the leuA gene encoding alpha-isopropylmalate synthase in the zygomycete fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus using a genetic mapping approach with crosses between wild type and leucine auxotrophic strains. To confirm the function of the gene, Phycomyces leuA was used to complement the auxotrophic phenotype exhibited by mutation of the leu3+ gene of the ascomycete fungus Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the leuA gene in Phycomyces, other zygomycetes, and the chytrids is more closely related to homologs in plants and photosynthetic bacteria than ascomycetes or basidiomycetes, and suggests that the Dikarya have acquired the gene more recently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of leuA in Phycomyces adds to the growing body of evidence that some primary metabolic pathways or parts of them have arisen multiple times during the evolution of fungi, probably through horizontal gene transfer events.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Idnurm
mesh_terms: D015079:2-Isopropylmalate Synthase / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D010800:Phycomyces / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D015079:2-Isopropylmalate Synthase