Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is common between prokaryotes and phagotrophic eukaryotes. In metazoans, the scale and significance of HGT remains largely unexplored but is usually linked to a close association with parasites and endosymbionts. Marine sponges (Porifera), which host many microorganisms in their tissues and lack an isolated germ line, are potential carriers of genes transferred from prokaryotes. In this study, we identified a number of potential horizontally transferred genes within the genome of the sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica.We further identified homologs of some of these genes in other sponges. The transferred genes, most of which possess catalytic activity for carbohydrate or protein metabolism, have assimilated host genome characteristics and are actively expressed. The diversity of functions contributed by the horizontally transferred genes is likely an important factor in the adaptation and evolution of A. queenslandica. These findings highlight the potential importance of HGT on the success of sponges in diverse ecological niches.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | e0151092 |
| Journal | PLoS One |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2016 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Detection of prokaryotic genes in the amphimedon queenslandica genome. / Conaco, Cecilia; Tsoulfas, Pantelis; Sakarya, Onur; Dolan, Amanda; Werren, John; Kosik, Kenneth S.
In: PLoS One, Vol. 11, No. 3, e0151092, 01.03.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of prokaryotic genes in the amphimedon queenslandica genome
AU - Conaco, Cecilia
AU - Tsoulfas, Pantelis
AU - Sakarya, Onur
AU - Dolan, Amanda
AU - Werren, John
AU - Kosik, Kenneth S.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is common between prokaryotes and phagotrophic eukaryotes. In metazoans, the scale and significance of HGT remains largely unexplored but is usually linked to a close association with parasites and endosymbionts. Marine sponges (Porifera), which host many microorganisms in their tissues and lack an isolated germ line, are potential carriers of genes transferred from prokaryotes. In this study, we identified a number of potential horizontally transferred genes within the genome of the sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica.We further identified homologs of some of these genes in other sponges. The transferred genes, most of which possess catalytic activity for carbohydrate or protein metabolism, have assimilated host genome characteristics and are actively expressed. The diversity of functions contributed by the horizontally transferred genes is likely an important factor in the adaptation and evolution of A. queenslandica. These findings highlight the potential importance of HGT on the success of sponges in diverse ecological niches.
AB - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is common between prokaryotes and phagotrophic eukaryotes. In metazoans, the scale and significance of HGT remains largely unexplored but is usually linked to a close association with parasites and endosymbionts. Marine sponges (Porifera), which host many microorganisms in their tissues and lack an isolated germ line, are potential carriers of genes transferred from prokaryotes. In this study, we identified a number of potential horizontally transferred genes within the genome of the sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica.We further identified homologs of some of these genes in other sponges. The transferred genes, most of which possess catalytic activity for carbohydrate or protein metabolism, have assimilated host genome characteristics and are actively expressed. The diversity of functions contributed by the horizontally transferred genes is likely an important factor in the adaptation and evolution of A. queenslandica. These findings highlight the potential importance of HGT on the success of sponges in diverse ecological niches.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962580016&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0151092
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0151092
M3 - Article
C2 - 26959231
AN - SCOPUS:84962580016
VL - 11
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 3
M1 - e0151092
ER -