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Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.
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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
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Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
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Methods for Electroporation and Transformation Confirmation in Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM20016
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Genomic insights into bacterial DMSP transformations.

Mary Ann Moran1, Chris R Reisch, Ronald P Kiene

  • 1Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. mmoran@uga.edu

Annual Review of Marine Science
|March 31, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists identified key genes for bacterial dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) breakdown in oceans. These pathways influence marine food webs and atmospheric sulfur, with 60% of surface bacteria capable of DMSP degradation.

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Area of Science:

  • Marine microbiology
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Bacterial degradation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is crucial for marine ecosystems.
  • Understanding the genetic basis of DMSP breakdown pathways is essential for predicting its impact on ocean-atmosphere sulfur exchange.
  • Previous research has advanced the understanding of DMSP metabolism, but regulatory factors remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the genes involved in the two primary bacterial DMSP degradation pathways.
  • To assess the potential contribution of marine bacteria to DMSP processing based on gene abundance.
  • To investigate the regulation of competing DMSP degradation pathways in natural bacterioplankton communities.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic and functional genomic analyses were employed.
  • Gene identification for DMSP demethylation (dmdA-D) and cleavage (dddD-Y) pathways.
  • Ocean metagenomic data analysis to quantify gene prevalence.
  • Gene transcription analyses of natural bacterioplankton communities.

Main Results:

  • Two main bacterial DMSP degradation pathways were genetically defined: demethylation (dmd genes) and cleavage (ddd genes).
  • The dmd pathway retains carbon and sulfur in the marine food web.
  • The ddd pathway produces dimethylsulfide (DMS), impacting ocean-atmosphere sulfur flux.
  • Genes for DMSP degradation are present in 60% of surface ocean bacterial cells.
  • Factors regulating these competing pathways are still under investigation.

Conclusions:

  • The identification of key DMSP degradation genes provides a foundation for understanding bacterial roles in marine sulfur cycling.
  • The prevalence of these genes suggests widespread bacterial capacity for DMSP processing in surface oceans.
  • Further research into gene transcription is needed to elucidate the regulation of DMSP pathways and their ecological significance.