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Evolution and Classification of Bacterial Chemotaxis
With the availability of whole-genome and proteome data, it is now possible to investigate questions related to the evolution of signaling systems. By analyzing 450 prokaryotic proteomes, Wuichet and Zhulin identified central and auxiliary components of the prokaryotic chemotaxis system and then grouped chemotaxis systems in various species into 19 classes. Additionally, their analysis revealed two previously unknown kinds of signal transducers that may be links between the complex chemotaxis system and the simple two-component transcription regulatory system from which the chemotaxis system is likely to have evolved.