Identification of a Divided Genome for VSH-1, the Prophage-Like Gene Transfer Agent of
            <i>Brachyspira hyodysenteriae</i>

Stanton, Thad B.; Humphrey, Samuel B.; Bayles, Darrell O.; Zuerner, Richard L.

doi:10.1128/jb.01359-08

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The larger 'head-tail-lysis' gene cluster appears to be transcribed from a single promoter, because transcripts spanning neighbouring sequences have been identified for all of the genes in this cluster, although the mRNA sizes indicate that post-initiation processes affect the final mRNA structures 58 . Quantitative measurements of gene copy number after the induction of VSH-1 production do not reveal any bias for packaging of VSH-1 genes relative to non-VSH-1 genes 58 , although VSH-1-specific transcription increases by >200-fold after induction 57 .…”

Section: The D Desulfuricans Gtamentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The RcGTA and VSH-1 gene clusters have overall synteny with the gene organization for double-stranded-DNA tailed phages 28,32,57 , although there appear to have been rearrangements resulting in non-contiguous tail and tail fibre genes (FIG. 3).…”

Section: Relationships Between Gtas and Phagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The protein encoded by this gene degrades B. hyodysenteriae peptidoglycan 56 , and a putative holin-encoding gene has also been identified close by 56 . One of the proteins associated with VSH-1 did not correspond to any of the genes that were originally mapped 56 , and subsequent work identified a separate cluster of three contiguous VSH-1 tail genes located a short distance away 57 (FIG. 3b).…”

Section: The D Desulfuricans Gtamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transcription studies and an analysis of putative regulatory sequences indicate that the two VSH-1 gene clusters are co-regulated 57 . The larger 'head-tail-lysis' gene cluster appears to be transcribed from a single promoter, because transcripts spanning neighbouring sequences have been identified for all of the genes in this cluster, although the mRNA sizes indicate that post-initiation processes affect the final mRNA structures 58 .…”

Section: The D Desulfuricans Gtamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…VSH-1 gene distribution, using the current VSH-1-encoding region 56,57 (FIG. 3b), appears to be limited to members of the Brachyspira genus (FIG.…”

Section: The D Desulfuricans Gtamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gene transfer agents: phage-like elements of genetic exchange

2012

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Horizontal gene transfer is important in the evolution of bacterial and archaeal genomes. An interesting genetic exchange process is carried out by diverse phage-like gene transfer agents (GTAs) that are found in a wide range of prokaryotes. Although GTAs resemble phages, they lack the hallmark capabilities that define typical phages, and they package random pieces of the producing cell's genome. In this Review, we discuss the defining characteristics of the GTAs that have been identified to date, along with potential functions for these agents and the possible evolutionary forces that act on the genes involved in their production.The prevalence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), in which DNA is exchanged between closely or distantly related lineages, has altered the way we think about evolution 1,2 , having profound effects on our views of the evolutionary relationships among living organisms. It has caused a shift from a bifurcating 'tree of life' view to a 'net of life' or 'web of life' view [3][4][5] , in which "highways of gene sharing" (REF. 6) represent major connections, with genes (or DNA segments) viewed as "public goods, available for all organisms to integrate into their genomes" (REF. 7). HGT occurs within and between all three domains of life, and it has been estimated that 0.05-80% of genes in bacterial and archaeal genomes have been affected by HGT, depending on the analytical method used and the genome analysed [8][9][10] . Although HGT is widespread, it is not random: patterns of preferential gene exchange among specific groups of organisms that share ancestry or habitat have been * Present address. aslang@mun.ca; olgazh@dartmouth.edu; j.beatty@mail.ubc.ca Competing interests statementThe authors declare no competing financial interests. 6,9,11,12 . Such patterns are probably a consequence of existing barriers to HGT, which have been reviewed in detail elsewhere 13,14 . FURTHER INFORMATIONAlthough we have known about some HGT mechanisms for decades, novel processes that expand the existing repertoire of gene exchange methods are continually being identified. Transformation was the first mechanism of gene exchange to be discovered 15 , wherein DNA is taken up directly from the environment (reviewed elsewhere 16,17 ). In transduction, DNA transfer is mediated by viral particles (BOX 1). In conjugation, which was discovered in the 1940s 18 , DNA is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell during cell-to-cell contact; conjugation is used in the transfer of plasmids, transposons, integrons, and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) [19][20][21] . There are other modes of gene exchange that do not fit well into any of these three canonical mechanisms, including temporary cell fusion followed by chromosomal recombination and plasmid exchange 22 , intercellular connection through nanotubes 23 , and the release of membrane vesicles containing chromosomal, plasmid and phage DNA that can then merge with nearby cells 24 . In addition, a novel mechanism of gene transfer that has feature...

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Section: The D Desulfuricans Gtamentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Relationships Between Gtas and Phagesmentioning

confidence: 99%