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Multiple genetic switches spontaneously modulating bacterial mutability.

Fang Chen¹, Wei-Qiao Liu, Abraham Eisenstark

¹Genomics Research Center (one of The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

|September 15, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria balance genetic stability and evolution through DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene switches. Locking MMR genes functional significantly reduced bacterial mutability, suggesting a key role in evolution.

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Mutagenesis and Functional Selection Protocols for Directed Evolution of Proteins in E. coli

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics

Background:

Life requires both genetic stability for species survival and mutability for adaptation.
The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is crucial for genetic stability; its defects increase mutability.
The balance between stability and mutability is poorly understood, particularly how MMR influences evolution driven by mutations and gene transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if bacteria can still evolve when the conversion of MMR genes from functional to defective states is prevented.
To explore the role of MMR gene allele conversion in modulating bacterial mutability.

Main Methods:

"Locked" MMR genes in Salmonella strains using nucleotide replacements to prevent allele conversion.
Assessed bacterial mutability in locked strains.
Examined tandem repeat distribution in MMR genes across over 100 bacterial species.

Main Results:

Salmonella strains with locked functional MMR genes exhibited significantly decreased mutability.
The study identified potential multiple genetic switches within MMR genes in diverse bacterial species.
These switches may spontaneously regulate bacterial mutability throughout evolution.

Conclusions:

MMR allele conversion, mediated by slipped-strand mis-pairing in tandem repeats, acts as a spontaneous mechanism.
This mechanism facilitates switching between high genetic stability and mutability in bacterial evolution.