Genome-wide identification of laccase gene family in three Phytophthora species

Phytophthora spp. is a primary pathogen in oomycete, causing economically and environmentally devastating epidemics of plants. Laccases have been found in all domains of life but have not been reported in oomycte. In this paper, laccase genes of Phytophthora spp. were identified in three genomes (Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora sojae and Phytophthora ramorum). 18 laccase genes were identified in total, including four in P. capsici genome, six in P. sojae genome and eight in P. ramorum genome. Most of the predicted gene models shared typical fungal laccase character, possessing three conserved positions with one cysteine and ten histidine residues at these positions. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that laccases from Phytophthora clustered into four clades, while fungal laccases clustered together. The results provided the theoretical ground for new hypotheses about the roles laccases in oomycetes and may guide the future research of these enzymes.