Lateral gene transfer of a dermonecrotic toxin between spiders and bacteria

• DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/bti811
• Publication Date: 2005-12-07T03:03:48Z
• Authors: Matthew H. J. Cordes; Greta J. Binford
• Keywords: Horizontal Gene Transfer; Lineage (genetic)

Abstract Motivation: Spiders in the genus Loxosceles, including notoriously toxic brown recluse, cause severe necrotic skin lesions owing to presence of a venom enzyme called sphingomyelinase D (SMaseD). This activity is unknown elsewhere animal kingdom but shared with strains pathogenic Corynebacteria that various illnesses farm animals. The same only distantly related organisms poses an interesting and medically important question molecular evolution. Results: We use superpositions recently determined structures sequence comparisons infer both bacterial spider SMaseDs originated from common, broadly conserved domain family, glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterases. also identify unique sequence/structure motif present not ancestral supporting SMaseD origin through single divergence event either bacteria or spiders, followed by lateral gene transfer one lineage other. Contact: [e-mail]; [e-mail]