Transcriptional regulation of a horizontally transferred gene from bacterium to chordate.

ABSTRACT: The horizontal transfer of genes between distantly related organisms is undoubtedly a major factor in the evolution of novel traits. Because genes are functionless without expression, horizontally transferred genes must acquire appropriate transcriptional regulations in their recipient organisms, although the evolutionary mechanism is not known well. The defining characteristic of tunicates is the presence of a cellulose containing tunic covering the adult and larval body surface. Cellulose synthase was acquired by horizontal gene transfer from Actinobacteria. We found that acquisition of the binding site of AP-2 transcription factor was essential for tunicate cellulose synthase to gain epidermal-specific expression. Actinobacteria have very GC-rich genomes, regions of which are capable of

SUBMITTER: Sasakura Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5204163 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature