Signs of neutralization in a redundant gene involved in homologous recombination in Wolbachia endosymbionts.

ABSTRACT: Genomic reduction in bacterial endosymbionts occurs through large genomic deletions and long-term accumulation of mutations. The latter process involves successive steps including gene neutralization, pseudogenization, and gradual erosion until complete loss. Although many examples of pseudogenes at various levels of degradation have been reported, neutralization cases are scarce because of the transient nature of the process. Gene neutralization may occur due to relaxation of selection in nonessential genes, for example, those involved in redundant functions. Here, we report an example of gene neutralization in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway of Wolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. The HR pathway is often depleted in endosymbiont genomes, but it is ap

SUBMITTER: Badawi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4224334 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature