Rapid functional activation of a horizontally transferred eukaryotic gene in a bacterial genome in the absence of selection.

ABSTRACT: Horizontal gene transfer has occurred between organisms of all domains of life and contributed substantially to genome evolution in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that eukaryotic genes horizontally transferred to bacteria provided useful new gene functions that improved metabolic plasticity and facilitated adaptation to new environments. How these eukaryotic genes evolved into functional bacterial genes is not known. Here, we have conducted a genetic screen to identify the mechanisms involved in functional activation of a eukaryotic gene after its transfer into a bacterial genome. We integrated a eukaryotic selectable marker gene cassette driven by expression elements from the red alga Porphyridium purpureum into the genome of Escherichia coli. Following gr

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614815 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature