A positive correlation between GC content and growth temperature in prokaryotes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

GC pairs are generally more stable than AT pairs; GC-rich genomes were proposed to be more adapted to high temperatures than AT-rich genomes. Previous studies consistently showed positive correlations between growth temperature and the GC contents of structural RNA genes. However, for the whole genome sequences and the silent sites of the codons in protein-coding genes, the relationship between GC content and growth temperature is in a long-lasting debate.

Results

With a dataset much larger than previous studies (681 bacteria and 155 archaea with completely assembled genomes), our phylogenetic comparative analyses showed positive correlations between optimal growth temperature (Topt) and GC content both in bacterial and archaeal structural RNA genes and in bacteri

SUBMITTER: Hu EZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8827189 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature