Origem e evolução das snakinas no reino vegetal

Abstract

There are several types of molecules that are important in the innate immune system of living organisms, they are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are low molecular weight molecules that act in the defense of the host against pathogens. They have been identified as a possible solution to minimize the negative effects of pathogens, which can be known in the development of plants more resistant to pathogens and new antibiotics. Among the families of antimicrobial peptides found, we have Snakin, which perform antibacterial and antifungal activities, in addition to being involved in plant growth and development. However, Snakin have never been analyzed in the oldest plant species. Thus, the present study aimed to identify and characterize in silico the genes encoding Snakinas in the following groups: green algae, bryophytes (Hornworts, Marchantiales and Pelliales) and ptedridophytes (Equisetales, Osmundales, Plagiogyriales and Salviniales). Through bioinformatics tools, such as the 1000 plants database, software such as Blast2GO, MEGA X and SWISS-MODEL, it was possible to find as sequences equivalent to the Snakin family. 50 Snakinas genes were identified, distributed in all the vegetal lines analyzed. Based on the results obtained, it was possible to visualize the evolution of these genes in the plant line, from more primitive algae. In the present study, it was also characterized the identification and characterization of the AMP encoding genes of the Snakin family, the expressed products, the three-dimensional structures, the analysis of the conserved domains and the ancestry of these Snakin in comparison with other plants through phylogenetic tree, all of them having two long α-propellers and six disulfide bonds between the 12 cysteines. Identification of the AMP encoding genes of the Snakin family genes in primitive plants may contribute to the understanding of their respective evolutionary aspects, enabling advances in the understanding of the functioning of antimicrobial peptides, and their diverse biotechnological applications. Our study provides a new perspective on the evolutionary relationships of Snakin in the Kingdom Vegetable and their relationship to the circumstances of plant survival and adaptation.