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Thymidine Kinase Diversity in Bacteria |
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| Authors: | M. P. B. Sandrini A. R. Clausen B. Munch-Petersen J. Piškur |
| Affiliation: | 1. BioCentrum–DTU , Technical University of Denmark , Lyngby, Denmark;2. Cell and Organism Biology , Lund University , S?lvegatan, Lund, Sweden;3. Cell and Organism Biology , Lund University , S?lvegatan, Lund, Sweden;4. Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry , Roskilde University , Roskilde, Denmark |
| Abstract: | Thymidine kinases (TKs) appear to be almost ubiquitous and are found in nearly all prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and several viruses. They are the key enzymes in thymidine salvage and activation of several anti-cancer and antiviral drugs. We show that bacterial TKs can be subdivided into 2 groups. The TKs from Gram-positive bacteria are more closely related to the eukaryotic TK1 enzymes than are TKs from Gram-negative bacteria. |
| Keywords: | Thymidine kinase Deoxyribonucleoside kinase Nucleosides Pyrimidines Evolution Nucleic acids precursors |