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The dcr gene family of Desulfovibrio: Implications from the sequence of dcrH and phylogenetic comparison with other mcp genes

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Abstract

Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough contains a family of genes for methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). Here we report the complete sequence of the gene for Desulfovibrio chemoreceptor H (dcrH). The deduced amino acid sequence of DcrH protein, which has an enlarged N-terminal, ligand binding domain, indicates a structure similar to that of other MCPs. Comparison of the sequences for DcrA, determined earlier, and DcrH indicated that similarity is essentially limited to the C-terminal excitation region. The dcr gene family differs, in this respect, from mcp gene families in other eubacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis), where MCPs share significant homology throughout their C-terminal signal transduction domains. This may point to an ancient evolutionary origin of the dcr gene family, which is widely distributed throughout the genus Desulfovibrio. The evolutionary origin of mcp genes was traced by comparing nucleotide sequences for the excitation region that is common to all MCPs. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences for thirty mcp genes from nine eubacterial and one archaebacterial species suggested that multiplication of mcp genes has occurred at least twice since the eubacteria diverged from the archaebacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Gerrit Voordouw

  2. Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, H3C 3J7, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Harm M. Deckers

Authors
  1. Harm M. Deckers
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  2. Gerrit Voordouw
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Additional information

Nucleotide accession number: The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been entered into GenBank under accession number U30319. Phone: 403-220-6388. Fax: 403-289-9311. Electronic mail address: voordouw@acs.ucalgary.ca.

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Deckers, H.M., Voordouw, G. The dcr gene family of Desulfovibrio: Implications from the sequence of dcrH and phylogenetic comparison with other mcp genes. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 70, 21–29 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393566

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393566

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