Presence of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Species in All Subgroups of the PP_i-Dependent Group II Phosphofructokinase Protein Family

ABSTRACT

Inorganic pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PP_i-PFK) of the amitochondriate eukaryoteMastigamoeba balamuthi was sequenced and showed about 60% identity to PP_i-PFKs from two eubacteria,Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Sinorhizobium meliloti. These gene products represent a newly recognized lineage of PFKs. All four lineages of group II PFKs, as defined by phylogenetic analysis, contained both prokaryotic and eukaryotic species, underlining the complex evolutionary history of this enzyme.