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Horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes: quantification and classification.

E V Koonin1, K S Makarova, L Aravind

  • 1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA. koonin@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Annual Review of Microbiology
|September 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary
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Prokaryotic genomes frequently acquire genes through horizontal gene transfer, influenced by lifestyle. These gene acquisitions often provide selective advantages, such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Prokaryotic genomes show significant gene content derived from horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
  • HGT patterns correlate with organismal lifestyle and environmental niche.
  • HGT can involve acquiring new genes, paralogs, or displacing existing genes with orthologs (xenologs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the extent and implications of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotic genomes.
  • To investigate the relationship between HGT, organism lifestyle, and selective advantages.
  • To explore specific examples of HGT events and their evolutionary significance.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic analysis of bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic genomes.
  • Classification of horizontal gene transfer events.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Case studies examining specific gene acquisitions and their functional roles.

    • Main Results:

    • A substantial portion of prokaryotic genes originate from HGT.
    • Gene transfer patterns vary, with hyperthermophiles showing extensive archaeal exchange and parasitic bacteria acquiring eukaryotic genes.
    • Acquired genes, such as isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases and proteases, confer selective advantages like antibiotic resistance and potential roles in pathogenesis.

    Conclusions:

    • Horizontal gene transfer is a major driver of prokaryotic genome evolution.
    • The selective benefits of HGT are evident in cases linked to antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity.
    • Understanding HGT mechanisms and outcomes is crucial for evolutionary and applied microbiology.