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Biochemical diversification through foreign gene expression in bdelloid rotifers
Chiara Boschetti1, Adrian Carr, Alastair Crisp
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Plos Genetics
|November 21, 2012
Summary
Bdelloid rotifers, ancient asexual microinvertebrates, extensively express horizontally acquired genes. These foreign genes significantly enhance their metabolism, aiding adaptation and survival without sexual reproduction.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bdelloid rotifers are ancient asexual microinvertebrates known for surviving extreme conditions like desiccation and radiation.
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been suggested to occur in bdelloids, but its functional significance remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent and physiological role of horizontally acquired gene expression in the bdelloid Adineta ricciae.
- To analyze the bdelloid transcriptome for foreign gene content and its contribution to metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Massively parallel sequencing of cDNA libraries from hydrated and desiccated Adineta ricciae.
- Bioinformatic analysis (blastx) of assembled transcripts against the UniProtKB database to identify gene origins.
- Phylogenetic analysis and genomic linkage to verify foreign gene acquisition.
Main Results:
- Approximately 10% of ~29,000 matched transcripts were inferred to be horizontally acquired, primarily from bacteria, fungi, protists, and algae.
- The rate of HGT in bdelloids is estimated at 8%-9%, significantly higher than in other invertebrates.
- Around 80% of expressed horizontally acquired genes encode enzymes, contributing substantially (39%) to metabolic pathways, enhancing functions like toxin degradation and antioxidant production.
Conclusions:
- Bdelloid rotifers express horizontally acquired genes at an unprecedented scale in animals, profoundly impacting their metabolism.
- Foreign gene expression offers a potential mechanism for rapid adaptation in ancient asexuals, facilitating long-term persistence without sexual reproduction.
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