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Related Concept Videos

Conjugation01:19

Conjugation

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Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that primarily occurs in bacteria and some archaea, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation. Bacteria can acquire resistance genes through conjugative plasmids, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatments that would otherwise be lethal. This process involves direct contact between cells through specialized structures such as the sex pilus and is mediated by conjugative plasmids, including the F (fertility) factor.Conjugation requires...
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Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer that enables the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct contact. This process is facilitated by a donor cell carrying a conjugative plasmid, which encodes genes necessary for pilus formation, DNA replication, and transfer. The conjugative plasmid plays a central role in initiating and executing the transfer of genetic material.The tra region of the conjugative plasmid encodes proteins responsible for...
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Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
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Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

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Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

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LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
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Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes00:46

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The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
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Integrative and conjugative elements and their hosts: composition, distribution and organization.

Jean Cury1,2, Marie Touchon1,2, Eduardo P C Rocha1,2

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Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are abundant in bacteria but hard to study. A new method allows large-scale characterization of ICEs, revealing their modular structure and diverse functions.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is crucial for evolution.
  • Conjugative plasmids are well-studied, but integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are more abundant and less understood.
  • Previous studies of ICEs were limited to a few model systems due to difficulties in identification and delimitation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for large-scale identification and characterization of ICEs.
  • To analyze the composition, organization, and functional repertoire of ICEs.
  • To investigate the evolutionary history of ICEs and their components.

Main Methods:

  • A novel comparative genomics method using conjugation genes and species' pan-genomes to identify and delimit ICEs.
  • Analysis of 200 delimited ICEs.
  • Quantification of functional genes within ICEs, including plasmid-associated functions.
  • Protein sequence similarity networks and phylogenetic analyses to study ICE structure and evolution.

Main Results:

  • Successfully delimited 200 ICEs, enabling the first large-scale characterization.
  • Identified a wide range of functions within ICEs, including plasmid-like functions (e.g., replication, partition).
  • Revealed that ICEs are organized into functional modules.
  • Demonstrated distinct evolutionary histories for integrases and conjugation systems.
  • Showed that ICE gene repertoires cluster based on conjugation types.

Conclusions:

  • The developed method overcomes previous limitations in ICE identification and characterization.
  • ICEs possess a complex and modular organization with diverse functional capabilities.
  • Comparative genomics of ICEs provides insights into their evolution and relationship with plasmids.
  • Further research on ICE cargo genes, many of unknown function, is warranted.