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MBE Advance Access originally published online on November 13, 2007
Molecular Biology and Evolution 2008 25(1):1-4; doi:10.1093/molbev/msm249
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Letter

Evidence Excluding the Root of the Tree of Life from the Actinobacteria

Jacqueline A. Servin*,{dagger}, Craig W. Herbold*,{dagger}, Ryan G. Skophammer{dagger},{ddagger} and James A. Lake*,{dagger},{ddagger},§,1

* Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
{dagger} UCLA Astrobiology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
{ddagger} Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
§ Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles

E-mail: lake{at}mbi.ucla.edu.

Accepted for publication November 8, 2007.

The Actinobacteria are found in aquatic and terrestrial habitats throughout the world and are among the most morphologically varied prokaryotes. They manufacture unusual compounds, utilize novel metabolic pathways, and contain unique genes. This diversity may suggest that the root of the tree of life could be within the Actinobacteria, although there is little or no convincing evidence for such a root. Here, using gene insertions and deletions found in the DNA gyrase, GyrA, and in the paralogous DNA topoisomerase, ParC, we present evidence that the root of life is outside the Actinobacteria.

Key Words: tree of life • root • indels • cenancestor • Actinobacteria • prokaryotes

1 Present address: 232 Boyer Hall, 611 South Young Drive, University of California, Los Angeles.

Martin Embley, Associate Editor


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