Domoic acid biosynthesis in the red alga <i>Chondria armata</i> suggests a complex evolutionary history for toxin production
Taylor S. Steele, John K. Brunson, Yukari Maeno, Ryuta Terada, Andrew E. Allen, Mari Yotsu‐Yamashita, Jonathan R. Chekan, Bradley S. Moore
Abstract
Significance Originally isolated from the red alga Chondria armata , domoic acid (DA) is best known as a potent marine neurotoxin produced by oceanic harmful algal blooms of planktonic diatoms. Sequencing efforts to date of kainoid-producing red algae have focused exclusively on a closely related molecule, kainic acid, leaving a gap in the understanding of DA biosynthesis in red algae and its evolutionary linkage to diatoms. Here, we present the phylogenetic and biochemical investigation of DA biosynthesis in C. armata . This work demonstrates the high synteny of DA biosynthetic genes between relatively distant taxonomic groups of algae and suggests a complex evolutionary history for DA biosynthesis involving gene transfer and neofunctionalization.