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Comparative genomics reveals new evolutionary and ecological patterns of selenium utilization in bacteria
Ting Peng1, Jie Lin1, Yin-Zhen Xu1
1Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China.
The ISME Journal
|January 23, 2016
Summary
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for life. This study maps bacterial Se utilization pathways, revealing new evolutionary trends and potential novel Se forms, advancing our understanding of microbial Se biochemistry.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Selenium (Se) is a vital micronutrient essential for synthesizing selenocysteine, selenouridine, and Se-cofactors in many organisms.
- While key genes for Se utilization are known, systematic studies on the evolution and ecological distribution of these pathways in bacteria are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze the occurrence and evolutionary patterns of all known Se utilization traits across a vast dataset of sequenced bacteria.
- To generate a global map of bacterial Se utilization pathways and investigate the ecological factors influencing their distribution.
- To identify potential novel Se utilization mechanisms and explore macroevolutionary trends.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of over 5200 sequenced bacterial genomes to identify Se utilization genes and pathways.
- Phylogenetic analysis of Se utilization pathway components to detect horizontal gene transfer events.
- Characterization of bacterial selenoproteomes and metagenomic analysis of environmental samples.
Main Results:
- A detailed global map of bacterial Se utilization pathways was constructed, representing the most extensive understanding to date.
- The selenophosphate synthetase gene was found in organisms lacking known Se traits, suggesting a novel Se form.
- New horizontal gene transfer events were identified for various Se utilization traits, and a novel selenoprotein-rich phylum was discovered.
- A strong correlation between ecological environments and Se utilization patterns was established, supported by metagenomic data.
Conclusions:
- This study provides unprecedented insights into the diversity and evolution of Se utilization in bacteria.
- The findings highlight the dynamic nature of Se metabolism and its adaptation to diverse ecological niches.
- The discovery of potential novel Se forms and evolutionary trends opens new avenues for research in microbial Se biochemistry and evolution.
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