Protein evolution in deep sea bacteria: an analysis of amino acids substitution rates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Abyssal microorganisms have evolved particular features that enable them to grow in their extreme habitat. Genes belonging to specific functional categories are known to be particularly susceptible to high-pressure; therefore, they should show some evidence of positive selection. To verify this hypothesis we computed the amino acid substitution rates between two deep-sea microorganisms, Photobacterium profundum SS9 and Shewanella benthica KT99, and their respective shallow water relatives.

Results

A statistical analysis of all the orthologs, led to the identification of positive selected (PS) genes, which were then used to evaluate adaptation strategies. We were able to establish "Motility" and "Transport" as two classes significantly enriched with PS genes. The p

SUBMITTER: Campanaro S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2600651 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature