Abstract
The ZIP family of zinc transporters is found in all three domains of life. However, little is known about the phylogenetic relationship amongst ZIP transporters, their distribution or origin. Here we employed phylogenetic analysis to explore the evolution of ZIP transporters, with a focus on the major human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Pan-domain analysis of bacterial, archaeal, fungal and human proteins revealed a complex relationship amongst the ZIP family members. Here we report (i) a eukaryote-wide group of cellular zinc importers (ii) a fungal-specific group of zinc importers, with genetic association with the fungal zincophore, and, (iii) a pan-kingdom supercluster made up of two distinct subgroups with orthologues in bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic phyla.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2631 |
Journal | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Dec 2017 |
Bibliographical note
DW is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (102549/Z/13/Z), a Wellcome Trust ISSF seed corn grant (RG12723 14), the Medical Research Council and University of Aberdeen (MR/N006364/1) and a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology (097377/Z/11/Z). LL is supported by a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DH150187). MA is funded by the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait.Keywords
- ZIP
- zinc
- transport
- transporter
- evolution
- pathogenic fungi
- Candida albicans