The mosaicism of plasmids revealed by atypical genes detection and analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

From an evolutionary viewpoint, prokaryotic genomes are extremely plastic and dynamic, since large amounts of genetic material are continuously added and/or lost through promiscuous gene exchange. In this picture, plasmids play a key role, since they can be transferred between different cells and, through genetic rearrangement(s), undergo gene(s) load, leading, in turn, to the appearance of important metabolic innovations that might be relevant for cell life. Despite their central position in bacterial evolution, a massive analysis of newly acquired functional blocks [likely the result of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events] residing on plasmids is still missing.

Results

We have developed a computational, composition-based, pipeline to scan almost 2000 plasmids

SUBMITTER: Bosi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3166947 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature