Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life
Though horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread, genes and taxa experience biased rates of transferability. Curiously, independent transmission of homologous DNA to archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses is extremely rare and often defies ecological and functional explanations. Here, we demo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2014-11-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/04266 |
| _version_ | 1811180509432119296 |
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| author | Jason A Metcalf Lisa J Funkhouser-Jones Kristen Brileya Anna-Louise Reysenbach Seth R Bordenstein |
| author_facet | Jason A Metcalf Lisa J Funkhouser-Jones Kristen Brileya Anna-Louise Reysenbach Seth R Bordenstein |
| author_sort | Jason A Metcalf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Though horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread, genes and taxa experience biased rates of transferability. Curiously, independent transmission of homologous DNA to archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses is extremely rare and often defies ecological and functional explanations. Here, we demonstrate that a bacterial lysozyme family integrated independently in all domains of life across diverse environments, generating the only glycosyl hydrolase 25 muramidases in plants and archaea. During coculture of a hydrothermal vent archaeon with a bacterial competitor, muramidase transcription is upregulated. Moreover, recombinant lysozyme exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial action in a dose-dependent manner. Similar to bacterial transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, transfer of a potent antibacterial gene across the universal tree seemingly bestows a niche-transcending adaptation that trumps the barriers against parallel HGT to all domains. The discoveries also comprise the first characterization of an antibacterial gene in archaea and support the pursuit of antibiotics in this underexplored group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:03:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4ac21db84244dc482002d4a945ca9be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:03:22Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4ac21db84244dc482002d4a945ca9be2022-12-22T04:32:42ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2014-11-01310.7554/eLife.04266Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of lifeJason A Metcalf0Lisa J Funkhouser-Jones1Kristen Brileya2Anna-Louise Reysenbach3Seth R Bordenstein4Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United StatesThough horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread, genes and taxa experience biased rates of transferability. Curiously, independent transmission of homologous DNA to archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses is extremely rare and often defies ecological and functional explanations. Here, we demonstrate that a bacterial lysozyme family integrated independently in all domains of life across diverse environments, generating the only glycosyl hydrolase 25 muramidases in plants and archaea. During coculture of a hydrothermal vent archaeon with a bacterial competitor, muramidase transcription is upregulated. Moreover, recombinant lysozyme exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial action in a dose-dependent manner. Similar to bacterial transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, transfer of a potent antibacterial gene across the universal tree seemingly bestows a niche-transcending adaptation that trumps the barriers against parallel HGT to all domains. The discoveries also comprise the first characterization of an antibacterial gene in archaea and support the pursuit of antibiotics in this underexplored group.https://elifesciences.org/articles/04266horizontal gene transferantibioticlysinarchaea |
| spellingShingle | Jason A Metcalf Lisa J Funkhouser-Jones Kristen Brileya Anna-Louise Reysenbach Seth R Bordenstein Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life eLife horizontal gene transfer antibiotic lysin archaea |
| title | Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| title_full | Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| title_fullStr | Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| title_short | Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| title_sort | antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life |
| topic | horizontal gene transfer antibiotic lysin archaea |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/04266 |
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