Trends between gene content and genome size in prokaryotic species with larger genomes.

ABSTRACT: Although the evolution process and ecological benefits of symbiotic species with small genomes are well understood, these issues remain poorly elucidated for free-living species with large genomes. We have compared 115 completed prokaryotic genomes by using the Clusters of Orthologous Groups database to determine whether there are changes with genome size in the proportion of the genome attributable to particular cellular processes, because this may reflect both cellular and ecological strategies associated with genome expansion. We found that large genomes are disproportionately enriched in regulation and secondary metabolism genes and depleted in protein translation, DNA replication, cell division, and nucleotide metabolism genes compared to medium- and small-sized genomes. Furthermore,

SUBMITTER: Konstantinidis KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC365760 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature