Phylogenetic analysis of microcystin biosynthesis genes by a filamentous cyanobacterium of the genus fischerella sp. isolated from salt water of golestan province

Leila Ghanbari,1,* Farzaneh hosseini,2 Bahareh nowruzi,3

1. Department of Biology, School of Basic Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. ORCID: 0000-0001-6656-777X
2. Department of microbiology, Islamic azad university Tehran north branch.
3. Department of Biology, School of Basic Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. ORCID: 0000-0001-6656-777X

Abstract

Introduction

Cyanobacteria produce an unparalleled variety of natural products, especially toxins that can cause severe health problems or death in humans and other animals. as there have been no reports of toxicity from saltwater cyanobacteria in iran, we sought to study the toxic gene of a filamentous cyanobacterium of the genus fischerella sp. isolated from salt water of golestan province. the aim of this paper is to describe the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolutionary history of toxic natural products

Methods

In this study, fischerella sp. was assessed in phylogenetic and evolutionary perspectives. the structural gene 16s ribosomal rna (rrna), functional genes nif d, psba, nif h, rpoc1, pc-igs, rbcl and toxic genes mcy g, d and e, were selected as molecular chronometers in this study.

Results

We hypothesized that horizontal gene transfer may play a role in the distribution of toxic biosynthetic genes within the genus fischerella sp.

Conclusion

This is the first report of molecular phylogeny and evogenomics of salt water toxic heterocystous cyanobacterium of the genus fischerella sp. in iran.

Keywords

Phylogenetic analysis, microcystin biosynthesis genes, fischerella sp.