Detection and characterization of horizontal transfers in prokaryotes using genomic signature.

ABSTRACT: Horizontal DNA transfer is an important factor of evolution and participates in biological diversity. Unfortunately, the location and length of horizontal transfers (HTs) are known for very few species. The usage of short oligonucleotides in a sequence (the so-called genomic signature) has been shown to be species-specific even in DNA fragments as short as 1 kb. The genomic signature is therefore proposed as a tool to detect HTs. Since DNA transfers originate from species with a signature different from those of the recipient species, the analysis of local variations of signature along recipient genome may allow for detecting exogenous DNA. The strategy consists in (i) scanning the genome with a sliding window, and calculating the corresponding local signature (ii) evaluating its deviation

SUBMITTER: Dufraigne C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC546175 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature