Mycobacteriophages BPs, Angel and Halo: comparative genomics reveals a novel class of ultra-small mobile genetic elements.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacteriophages BPs, Angel and Halo are closely related viruses isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis, and possess the smallest known mycobacteriophage genomes, 41,901 bp, 42,289 bp and 41,441 bp, respectively. Comparative genome analysis reveals a novel class of ultra-small mobile genetic elements; BPs and Halo each contain an insertion of the proposed mobile elements MPME1 and MPME2, respectively, at different locations, while Angel contains neither. The close similarity of the genomes provides a comparison of the pre- and post-integration sequences, revealing an unusual 6 bp insertion at one end of the element and no target duplication. Nine additional copies of these mobile elements are identified in a variety of different contexts in other mycobacteriophage genomes. In addition, BP

SUBMITTER: Sampson T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2833263 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature