Evolution of a subtilisin-like protease gene family in the grass endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae

Authors

Michelle K. Bryant, Massey University, New Zealand
Christopher L. Schardl, University of KentuckyFollow
Uljana Hesse, University of KentuckyFollow
Barry Scott, Massey University, New Zealand

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Subtilisin-like proteases (SLPs) form a superfamily of enzymes that act to degrade protein substrates. In fungi, SLPs can play either a general nutritive role, or may play specific roles in cell metabolism, or as pathogenicity or virulence factors.

RESULTS: Fifteen different genes encoding SLPs were identified in the genome of the grass endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these SLPs belong to four different subtilisin families: proteinase K, kexin, pyrolysin and subtilisin. The pattern of intron loss and gain is consistent with this phylogeny. E. festucae is exceptional in that it contains two kexin-like genes. Phylogenetic analysis in Hypocreales fungi revealed an extensive history of gene loss and duplication.

CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into the evolution of the SLP superfamily in filamentous fungi.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-19-2009

Notes/Citation Information

Published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, v. 9, 168.

© 2009 Bryant et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-168

Repository Citation

Bryant, Michelle K.; Schardl, Christopher L.; Hesse, Uljana; and Scott, Barry, "Evolution of a subtilisin-like protease gene family in the grass endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae" (2009). Plant Pathology Faculty Publications. 21.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/plantpath_facpub/21