Examination of genome homogeneity in prokaryotes using genomic signatures.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA word frequencies, normalized for genomic AT content, are remarkably stable within prokaryotic genomes and are therefore said to reflect a "genomic signature." The genomic signatures can be used to phylogenetically classify organisms from arbitrary sampled DNA. Genomic signatures can also be used to search for horizontally transferred DNA or DNA regions subjected to special selection forces. Thus, the stability of the genomic signature can be used as a measure of genomic homogeneity. The factors associated with the stability of the genomic signatures are not known, and this motivated us to investigate further. We analyzed the intra-genomic variance of genomic signatures based on AT content normalization (0(th) order Markov model) as well as genomic signatures normaliz

SUBMITTER: Bohlin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2781299 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature