Rapid diversification of wild social groups driven by toxin-immunity loci on mobile genetic elements.

ABSTRACT: Many species form distinct social groups that provide fitness advantages to individuals. However, the evolutionary processes that generate new social groups are not well understood. Here we examined recently diverged natural isolates of the model social bacterium, Myxococcus xanthus, to probe the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary processes of kin discrimination that occurred naturally in soil. We show that social incompatibilities were formed from horizontal gene transfer of effectors belonging to three distinct polymorphic toxin systems; outer membrane exchange, type VI secretion and rearrangement hotspot systems. Strikingly, the unique toxin effectors and their respective immunity genes that are responsible for social incompatibilities reside on mobile genetic elements, which make up n

SUBMITTER: Vassallo CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7490427 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature