Comparative systems biology across an evolutionary gradient within the Shewanella genus.

ABSTRACT: To what extent genotypic differences translate to phenotypic variation remains a poorly understood issue of paramount importance for several cornerstone concepts of microbiology including the species definition. Here, we take advantage of the completed genomic sequences, expressed proteomic profiles, and physiological studies of 10 closely related Shewanella strains and species to provide quantitative insights into this issue. Our analyses revealed that, despite extensive horizontal gene transfer within these genomes, the genotypic and phenotypic similarities among the organisms were generally predictable from their evolutionary relatedness. The power of the predictions depended on the degree of ecological specialization of the organisms evaluated. Using the gradient of evolutionary relate

SUBMITTER: Konstantinidis KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2747217 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature