Role of Horizontal Gene Transfer in the Evolution of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Virulence

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)- is defined as the acquisition of genetic material from another organism. However, recent findings indicate a possible role of HGT in the acquisition of traits with adaptive significance, suggesting that HGT is an important driving force in the evolution of eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. It has been noted that, in eukaryotes, HGT is more prevalent than originally thought. Mitochondria and chloroplasts lost a large number of genes after their respective endosymbiotic events occurred. Even after this major content loss, organelle genomes still continue to lose their own genes. Many of these are subsequently acquired by intracellular gene transfer from the original plastid. The aim of our review was to elucidate the role of chloroplasts in the transfer of genes. This review also explores gene transfer involving mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, though recent studies indicate that chloroplast genomes are far more active in HGT as compared to these other two DNA-containing cellular compartments.

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Possible Role of Bacteriophage-Mediated Horizontal Gene Transfer on Microbial Adaptation to Environmental Stressors in Polar Ecosystems

Polar Microbiology ◽

10.1201/9781420083880-c7 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 179-199

Author(s):

Michael Storrie-Lombardi ◽

Shannon Williamson

Keyword(s):

Gene Transfer ◽

Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽

Environmental Stressors ◽

Polar Ecosystems ◽

Microbial Adaptation

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Stand-alone ClpG disaggregase confers superior heat tolerance to bacteria

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1712051115 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 115 (2) ◽

pp. E273-E282 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Changhan Lee ◽

Kamila B. Franke ◽

Shady Mansour Kamal ◽

Hyunhee Kim ◽

Heinrich Lünsdorf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Gene Transfer ◽

Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽

Atpase Activity ◽

Stationary Phase ◽

Virulence Factor ◽

Heat Tolerance ◽

Molecular Features ◽

Partner Proteins

AAA+ disaggregases solubilize aggregated proteins and confer heat tolerance to cells. Their disaggregation activities crucially depend on partner proteins, which target the AAA+ disaggregases to protein aggregates while concurrently stimulating their ATPase activities. Here, we report on two potent ClpG disaggregase homologs acquired through horizontal gene transfer by the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and subsequently abundant P. aeruginosa clone C. ClpG exhibits high, stand-alone disaggregation potential without involving any partner cooperation. Specific molecular features, including high basal ATPase activity, a unique aggregate binding domain, and almost exclusive expression in stationary phase distinguish ClpG from other AAA+ disaggregases. Consequently, ClpG largely contributes to heat tolerance of P. aeruginosa primarily in stationary phase and boosts heat resistance 100-fold when expressed in Escherichia coli. This qualifies ClpG as a potential persistence and virulence factor in P. aeruginosa.

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