tef1, a Phytophthora infestans gene encoding translation elongation factor1 alpha

From a set of Phytophthora infestans cDNA clones randomly selected from a p otato-P. infestans interaction cDNA library, three out of 22 appeared to co rrespond to a gene encoding translation elongation factor 1 alpha. The gene , called tef1, is a single copy gene in P. infestans. During the life cycle of P. infestans, tef1 is expressed in all developmental stages. Alignment and phylogeny analysis based on EF-1 alpha proteins from several taxonomic groups, including fungi, slime molds, algae, higher plants and archeabacter ia, support the view that oomycetes evolved completely independently from t he true fungi. In the phylogenetic tree, P. infestans EF-1 alpha forms one branch with EF-1 alpha from the unicellular alga Cyanophora paradoxa, an or ganism belonging to a taxonomic group that occupies a key position in the e volution of plastids. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.