Accelerated evolution associated with genome reduction in a free-living prokaryote.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Three complete genomes of Prochlorococcus species, the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism in the ocean, have recently been published. Comparative genome analyses reveal that genome shrinkage has occurred within this genus, associated with a sharp reduction in G+C content. As all examples of genome reduction characterized so far have been restricted to endosymbionts or pathogens, with a host-dependent lifestyle, the observed genome reduction in Prochlorococcus is the first documented example of such a process in a free-living organism.

Results

Our results clearly indicate that genome reduction has been accompanied by an increased rate of protein evolution in P. marinus SS120 that is even more pronounced in P. marinus MED4. This acceleration has affe

SUBMITTER: Dufresne A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC551534 | biostudies-literature | 2005

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature