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Horizontal gene transfer in silkworm, Bombyx mori.
Bo Zhu1, Miao-Miao Lou, Guan-Lin Xie
1State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.
BMC Genomics
|May 21, 2011
Summary
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has significantly impacted the evolution of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. This study identified ten HGT events, including plant and bacterial transfers, conferring traits like pathogen resistance.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a model organism in Lepidoptera with significant economic value.
- While its genome is sequenced, the role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in its evolution remains largely unknown.
- Previous studies suggested HGT may confer selective advantages, as seen with BmChi-h and BmSuc1 genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and extent of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the evolutionary history of Bombyx mori.
- To compare the B. mori genome with a diverse set of species to identify potential HGT events.
- To analyze the origins and functional implications of identified HGTs in B. mori.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics analysis of Bombyx mori against 382 prokaryotic and eukaryotic species.
- Utilized Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic methods to identify candidate HGT events.
- Integrated EST checking and functional analyses (expression, coexpression, literature review) for validation.
Main Results:
- Identified ten candidate horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events in the Bombyx mori genome.
- Phylogenetic analysis indicated one plant-to-B. mori and nine bacteria-to-B. mori transfers.
- Functional analysis suggested several HGT genes provide advantageous traits, such as enhanced pathogen resistance.
Conclusions:
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a crucial role in the evolution of Bombyx mori.
- Interdomain HGTs in B. mori can generate novel, persistent, and evolutionarily significant genes.
- While fewer than in microbes, HGT events contribute substantially to silkworm adaptation and evolution.
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