Unexplored diversity and potential functions of extra-chromosomal elements.

ABSTRACT: In addition to the main chromosome, approximately 10% bacterial genomes have one or more large secondary replicons, including a unique type of replicon known as "chromid," which has plasmid-type replication and partition systems but carries core genes. Their nucleotide composition of chromids is very similar to that of their related chromosomes. However, the distribution, characteristics, functions, and origins of these chromids remain unclear. In this study, we established a workflow to identify chromids from complete bacterial genomes and screened 36,322 complete bacterial genomes, resulting in the identification of 1,104 bacterial genomes with chromids as secondary replicons. These chromid-carrying bacteria belong to eight phyla and 73 genera, exhibiting diversity and a wide global dist

SUBMITTER: Liu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12456017 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature