Phylogenetic relationships among prokaryotic and eukaryotic catalases

Seventy-four catalase protein sequences, including 29 bacterial, 8 fungal,7 animal, and 30 plant sequences, were compiled, and 70 were used forphylogenetic reconstruction. The core of the resulting tree revealedunique, separate groups of plant and animal catalases, two groups of fungalcatalases, and three groups of bacterial catalases. The only overlap ofkingdoms occurred within one branch and involved fungal and bacteriallarge-subunit enzymes. The other fungal branch was closely linked to thegroup of animal enzymes. Group I bacterial catalases were more closelyrelated to the plant enzymes and contained such diverse taxa as theGram-positive Listeria seeligeri, Deinocococcus radiodurans, andgamma-proteobacteria. Group III bacterial sequences were more closelyrelated to fungal and animal sequences and included enzymes from a broadrange of bacteria including high- and low-GC Gram positives,proteobacteria, and a bacteroides species. Group II was composed oflarge-subunit catalases from diverse sources including Gram positives(low-GC Bacilli and high-GC Mycobacteria), proteobacteria, and species ofthe filamentous fungus Aspergillus. These data can be interpreted in termsof two gene duplication events that produced a minimum of three catalasegene family members that subsequently evolved in response to environmentaldemands. Horizontal gene transfer may have been responsible for the groupII mixture of bacterial and fungal large-subunit catalases.