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This study aimed to investigate the conserved FAD-binding region of the L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) genes in twelve gastropod genera commonly found in Thailand compared to those in other organisms using molecular cloning, nucleotide sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Genomic DNA of gastropods and other invertebrates was extracted and screened using primers specific to the conserved FAD-binding region of LAAO. The amplified 143-bp fragments were cloned and sequenced. The obtained nucleotide sequences of 21 samples were aligned and phylogenetically compared to the LAAO-conserved FAD-binding regions of 210 other organisms from the NCBI database. Translated amino acid sequences of these samples were used in phylogenetics and pattern analyses. The phylogenetic trees showed clear separation of the conserved regions in fungi, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Alignment of the conserved 47-amino-acid FAD-binding region of the LAAOs showed 150 unique sequences among the 231 samples and these patterns were different from those of other flavoproteins in the amine oxidase family. An amino acid pattern analysis of five sub-regions (bFAD, FAD, FAD-GG, GG, and aGG) within the FAD-binding sequence showed high variation at the FAD-GG sub-region. Pattern analysis of secondary structures indicated the aGG sub-region as having the highest structural variation. Cluster analysis of these patterns revealed two major clusters representing the mollusc clade and the vertebrate clade. Thus, molecular phylogenetics and pattern analyses of sequence and structural variations could reflect evolutionary relatedness and possible structural conservation to maintain specific function within the FAD-binding region of the LAAOs in gastropods compared to other organisms. Keywords: L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), FAD-binding region, Gastropods, Pattern analysis, Clustering

A novel endophytic actinomycete strain GKU 173T isolated from the roots of Acacia mangium Willd. showed potential plant growth promoting (PGP) activity. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene, indicated that strain GKU 173T was the most closely related to Fodinicola feengrottensis HKI 0501T&mdash, the only species in the genus Fodinicola. Morphology and chemotaxonomy of strain GKU 173T indicated that it belongs to the genus Fodinicola by having meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall and xylose as the characteristic cell-wall sugars. The cellular fatty acid profile mainly comprised iso-C16:0, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C18:0, and iso-C17:0. The major menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6), and MK-9(H8). The main polar phospholipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Genome analysis signified DNA G+C content of 67.81 mol%. The level of digital DNA-DNA relatedness between strain GKU 173T and the type strain was 21.30%. On the basis of polyphasic characteristics, strain GKU 173T clearly represents a novel species of the genus Fodinicola, for which the name Fodinicola acaciae sp. nov. (= TBRC 10620T = NBRC 114213T) is proposed. Furthermore, genome analysis of both strains suggested that members of the genus Fodinicola are promising sources of beneficial PGP-actinomycetes and novel secondary metabolites.