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Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
Co-opting bacterial viruses for DNA exchange: structure and regulation of gene transfer agents
1Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Abstract:
Horizontal gene transfer occurs via a range of mechanisms, including transformation, conjugation and bacteriophage transduction. Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are an alternative, less-studied route for interbacterial DNA exchange. Encoded within bacterial or archaeal genomes, GTAs assemble into phage-like particles that selflessly package and transmit host DNA to recipient bacteria. Several unique features distinguish GTAs from canonical phages such as an inability to self-replicate, thus producing non-infectious particles. GTAs are also deeply integrated into the physiology of the host cell and are maintained under tight host-regulatory control. Recent advances in understanding the structure and regulation of GTAs have provided further insights into a DNA transfer mechanism that is proving increasingly widespread across the bacterial tree of life.
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