Genomic Structure of the Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase(SOD1) Gene from the Entomopathogenic Fungus, Cordyceps pruinosa

The genomic structure of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene from the entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps pruinosa was characterized. The SOD1 gene of C. pruinosa spans 947 nucleotides and consisted of four exons encoding for 154 amino acids and three introns. Four exons of the SOD1 gene are composed of 13, 331, 97 and 20 nucleotides respectively. Homology search of amino acid sequences of the SOD1 gene of C. pruinosa with another 13 fungi species showed higher sequence similarity of 69% ~ 95% and had the most highest sequence identity of 95% with Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps militaris, which can easely infect domesticated Bombyx mori and another wild lepidopteran species in artificial or natual manner of infection. This SOD1 gene sequence showed copper, zinc and beta-barrel fold sites. Homology search showed that the Cu/Zn SOD1 gene from the entomopathogenic fungus, C. pruinosa is an orthologous gene homolog present in different species of organism whose ancestor predates the split between the relating species. In addition, C. pruinosa SOD1 gene is placed together within the ascomycetes group of fungal clade. From these results it is concluded that C. pruinosa SOD1 gene is orthologous gene having the same or very similar functions with a common evolutionary ancestor.