Fogg, Paul Christopher Michael orcid.org/0000-0001-5324-4293 (2024) Gene Transfer Agents:the ambiguous role of selfless viruses in genetic exchange and bacterial evolution. Molecular Microbiology. ISSN 0950-382X
Abstract
Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) are genetic elements derived from ancestral bacteriophages that have become domesticated by the host. GTAs are present in diverse prokaryotic organisms, where they can facilitate horizontal gene transfer under certain conditions. Unlike typical bacteriophages, GTAs do not exhibit any preference for the replication or transfer of their own genes; instead, they exhibit a remarkable capacity to package chromosomal, and sometimes extrachromosomal, DNA into virus-like capsids and disseminate it to neighbouring cells. Because GTAs resemble defective prophages, identification of novel GTAs is not trivial. Detection of candidates relies on genetic similarity to known GTAs, which has been fruitful in α-proteobacterial lineages but challenging in more distant bacteria. Here we consider several fundamental questions: What is the true prevalence of GTAs in prokaryote genomes? Given there are high costs for GTA production, what advantage do GTAs provide to the bacterial host to justify their maintenance? How is the bacterial chromosome recognized and processed for inclusion in GTA particles? This article highlights the challenges in comprehensively understanding GTAs' prevalence, function and DNA packaging method. Going forward, broad study of atypical GTAs and use of ecologically relevant conditions are required to uncover their true impact on bacterial chromosome evolution.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. |
Keywords: | Gene Transfer Agents,Horizontal gene transfer,DNA PACKAGING MOTOR,bacteriophages,BACTERIAL EVOLUTION,viruses |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC (BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL) BB/V016288/1 |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 15 Mar 2024 10:20 |
Last Modified: | 09 Dec 2024 00:18 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.15251 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/mmi.15251 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:210339 |
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Description: Molecular Microbiology - 2024 - Fogg - Gene transfer agents The ambiguous role of selfless viruses in genetic exchange and
Licence: CC-BY 2.5