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Large-scale dynamics of horizontal transfers.

TitleLarge-scale dynamics of horizontal transfers.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsGrassi, L, Grilli, J, Cosentino Lagomarsino, M
JournalMob Genet Elements
Volume2
Issue3
Pagination163-167
Date Published2012 May 1
ISSN2159-2543
Abstract

The widespread exchange of genes between bacteria must have consequences on the global architecture of their genomes, which are being found in the abundant genomic data available today. Most of the expansion of bacterial protein families can be attributed to transfer events, which are positively biased for smaller evolutionary distances between genomes, and more frequent for classes that are larger, when summed over all known bacteria. Moreover, "innovation" events where horizontal transfers carry exogenous evolutionary families appear to be less frequent for larger genomes. This dynamic expansion of evolutionary families is interconnected with the acquisition of new biological functions and thus with the size and distribution of the genes' functional categories found on a genome. This commentary presents our recent contributions to this line of work and possible future directions.

DOI10.4161/mge.21112
Alternate JournalMob Genet Elements
PubMed ID23061026
PubMed Central IDPMC3463476

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