Gene loss through pseudogenization contributes to the ecological diversification of a generalist Roseobacter lineage.

ABSTRACT: Ecologically relevant genes generally show patchy distributions among related bacterial genomes. This is commonly attributed to lateral gene transfer, whereas the opposite mechanism-gene loss-has rarely been explored. Pseudogenization is a major mechanism underlying gene loss, and pseudogenes are best characterized by comparing closely related genomes because of their short life spans. To explore the role of pseudogenization in microbial ecological diversification, we apply rigorous methods to characterize pseudogenes in the 279 newly sequenced Ruegeria isolates of the globally abundant Roseobacter group collected from two typical coastal habitats in Hong Kong, the coral Platygyra acuta and the macroalga Sargassum hemiphyllum. Pseudogenes contribute to ~16% of the accessory genomes of thes

SUBMITTER: Chu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8027821 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature