Comparative genomics reveals evidence of marine adaptation in Salinispora species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Actinobacteria represent a consistent component of most marine bacterial communities yet little is known about the mechanisms by which these Gram-positive bacteria adapt to life in the marine environment. Here we employed a phylogenomic approach to identify marine adaptation genes in marine Actinobacteria. The focus was on the obligate marine actinomycete genus Salinispora and the identification of marine adaptation genes that have been acquired from other marine bacteria.

Results

Functional annotation, comparative genomics, and evidence of a shared evolutionary history with bacteria from hyperosmotic environments were used to identify a pool of more than 50 marine adaptation genes. An Actinobacterial species tree was used to infer the likelihood of gene gain or l

SUBMITTER: Penn K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3314556 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature