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Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach
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Essential gene acquisition destabilizes plasmid inheritance.

Tanita Wein1, Yiqing Wang1, Myriam Barz1

  • 1Institute of General Microbiology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.

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|July 12, 2021
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Essential genes rarely reside on plasmids, as their acquisition can cause plasmid extinction due to gene redundancy. This discovery explains why essential genes are uncommon on extra-chromosomal elements, impacting microbial evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial genetics and evolution
  • Prokaryotic biology
  • Molecular mechanisms of gene transfer

Background:

  • Extra-chromosomal genetic elements like plasmids drive prokaryotic evolution and adaptation.
  • Plasmids encoding essential host functions are rare, and their evolutionary dynamics are poorly understood.
  • Understanding essential plasmid evolution is crucial for comprehending microbial adaptation and gene transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of essential genes on plasmids in Escherichia coli.
  • To determine the impact of essential gene acquisition on plasmid fitness and inheritance.
  • To elucidate the reasons behind the rarity of essential genes on extra-chromosomal elements.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of Escherichia isolates to identify plasmid-encoded essential genes.
  • Experimental evolution of a plasmid encoding the essential GroEL/GroES chaperonin system in E. coli.
  • Assessment of plasmid fitness and inheritance stability under experimental conditions.

Main Results:

  • Essential genes are rarely encoded on plasmids; acquisition of essential chromosomal genes by plasmids can lead to plasmid extinction.
  • Few plasmid-encoded essential genes exist, and they are often linked to plasmid-related functions (e.g., GroEL/GroES).
  • Acquiring an essential gene significantly reduces plasmid fitness, irrespective of inheritance stability, due to gene redundancy.

Conclusions:

  • Essential plasmid emergence creates a detrimental gene dosage effect, hindering plasmid fitness.
  • The negative impact of essential gene acquisition acts as a barrier to plasmid-mediated lateral gene transfer.
  • This study provides a mechanistic explanation for the observed rarity of essential genes on extra-chromosomal genetic elements.