Visualization of pseudogenes in intracellular bacteria reveals the different tracks to gene destruction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pseudogenes reveal ancestral gene functions. Some obligate intracellular bacteria, such as Mycobacterium leprae and Rickettsia spp., carry substantial fractions of pseudogenes. Until recently, horizontal gene transfers were considered to be rare events in obligate host-associated bacteria.

Results

We present a visualization tool that displays the relationships and positions of degraded and partially overlapping gene sequences in multiple genomes. With this tool we explore the origin and deterioration patterns of the Rickettsia pseudogenes and find that variably present genes and pseudogenes tend to have been acquired more recently, are more divergent in sequence, and exhibit a different functional profile compared with genes conserved across all species. Overall,

SUBMITTER: Fuxelius HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2374718 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature