Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
10:41
Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation
Published on: January 4, 2017
What traits are carried on mobile genetic elements, and why?
D J Rankin1, E P C Rocha, S P Brown
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. d.rankin@bioc.uzh.ch
Heredity
|March 25, 2010
Summary
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) facilitate horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, often carrying genes that benefit host cells and neighbors. This review explores the diverse genes on MGEs and the conditions favoring their evolution.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Prokaryotes exhibit both vertical and horizontal gene transfer.
- Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) mediate rapid gene movement within and between genomes.
- MGEs, while self-interested, frequently carry genes beneficial to hosts and their neighbors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging patterns in genes carried by MGEs.
- To discuss evolutionary and ecological factors influencing MGE gene content.
- To understand the mix of parasitic, beneficial, and cooperative genes on MGEs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of MGEs and their carried genes.
- Analysis of gene functions, particularly those expressed extracellularly.
- Discussion of ecological and evolutionary drivers.
Main Results:
- MGEs carry a diverse array of genes, including those involved in bacterial sociality.
- Extracellular traits, such as public goods and bacteriocins, are commonly encoded by MGE genes.
- MGEs can facilitate the spread of both beneficial and detrimental traits within microbial communities.
Conclusions:
- MGEs play a significant role in shaping prokaryotic evolution and community structure.
- The gene content of MGEs reflects a complex interplay between MGE replication strategies and host/neighbor benefits.
- Understanding MGEs is crucial for comprehending microbial adaptation and cooperation.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Transposons
Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...
02:13Overview of Transposition and Recombination
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
02:57DNA-only Transposons
DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
01:19Mechanism of Conjugation
Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer that enables the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct contact. This process is facilitated by a donor cell carrying a conjugative plasmid, which encodes genes necessary for pilus formation, DNA replication, and transfer. The conjugative plasmid plays a central role in initiating and executing the transfer of genetic material.The tra region of the conjugative plasmid encodes proteins responsible for...
01:27Horizontal Gene Transfer
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process where genetic material moves between organisms within the same generation, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring. HGT plays a crucial role in microbial evolution, adaptation, and survival, particularly in shared environments like the human gut.Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, integrons, insertion sequences, and transposons facilitate this process. HGT occurs through three primary mechanisms:...
03:08LTR Retrotransposons
LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...