Ancient horizontal transfer of transaldolase-like protein gene and its role in plant vascular development.

ABSTRACT: A major event in land plant evolution is the origin of vascular tissues, which ensure the long-distance transport of water, nutrients and organic compounds. However, the molecular basis for the origin and evolution of plant vascular tissues remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate the evolution of the land plant TAL-type transaldolase (TAL) gene and its potential function in rice (Oryza sativa) based on phylogenetic analyses and transgenic experiments, respectively. TAL genes are only present in land plants and bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that land plant TAL genes are derived from Actinobacteria through an ancient horizontal gene transfer (HGT) event. Further evidence reveals that land plant TAL genes have undergone positive selection and gained several introns following i

SUBMITTER: Yang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407918 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature