Lateral transfers of insertion sequences between Wolbachia, Cardinium and Rickettsia bacterial endosymbionts.

ABSTRACT: Various bacteria live exclusively within arthropod cells and collectively act as an important driver of arthropod evolutionary ecology. Whereas rampant intra-generic DNA transfers were recently shown to have a pivotal role in the evolution of the most common of these endosymbionts, Wolbachia, the present study show that inter-generic DNA transfers also commonly take place, constituting a potent source of rapid genomic change. Bioinformatic, molecular and phylogenetic data provide evidence that a selfish genetic element, the insertion sequence ISRpe1, is widespread in the Wolbachia, Cardinium and Rickettsia endosymbionts and experiences recent (and likely ongoing) transfers over long evolutionary distances. Although many ISRpe1 copies were clearly expanding and leading to rapid endosymbiont

SUBMITTER: Duron O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3807263 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature