Genetic Basis for Geosmin Production by the Water Bloom-Forming Cyanobacterium, Anabaena ucrainica

Water

Zhongjie Wang³  Jihai Shao⁴  Yao Xu¹  Biao Yan²  Renhui Li¹ 

[1] Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; E-Mail:;Henan University Minsheng College, Kaifeng 475001, China; E-Mail:;Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Speciality Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; E-Mail:;Resources and Environment College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; E-Mail:

关键词: geosmin;    synthesis gene;    cyanobacteria;    Anabaena ucrainica;    cyclic nucleotide-binding protein;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w7010175

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Geosmin is a common, musty-smelling sesquiterpene, principally produced by cyanobacteria. Anabaena ucrainica (Schhorb.) Watanabe, a water bloom-forming cyanobacterium, is the geosmin producer responsible for odor problems in Dianchi and Erhai lakes in China. In this study, the geosmin synthase gene (geo) of A. ucrainica and its flanking regions were identified and cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genome walking. The geo gene was found to be located in a transcription unit with two cyclic nucleotide-binding protein genes (cnb). The two cnb genes were highly similar and were predicted members of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) receptor protein/fumarate nitrate reductase regulator (Crp–Fnr) family. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses implied that the evolution of the geosmin genes involved a horizontal gene transfer process in cyanobacteria. These genes showed a close relationship to 2-methylisoborneol genes in origin and evolution.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.