Evolution of the clusters of genes for β-lactam antibiotics: a model for evolutive combinatorial assembly of new β-lactams

Autores/as

  • Paloma Liras Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Leon, Spain
  • Antonio Rodríguez-García Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Leon, Spain
  • Juan F. Martín Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Leon, Spain

Palabras clave:

β-lactam antibiotics, microbial evolution, gene clusters, Streptomyces, Penicillium

Resumen

β-Lactam antibiotics are produced by prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The genes for β-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 β-lactam biosynthesis enzymes in producing organisms. This suggests a horizontal transfer of the β-lactam antibiotic biosynthesis genes.

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Publicado

2010-03-17

Número

Sección

Review Articles