Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecolo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
2020
|
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125505 |
| _version_ | 1826213069114572800 |
|---|---|
| author | Berube, Paul M. Rasmussen, Anna Braakman, Rogier Chisholm, Sallie W |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Berube, Paul M. Rasmussen, Anna Braakman, Rogier Chisholm, Sallie W |
| author_sort | Berube, Paul M. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecologically important functions. Nitrate assimilation genes are absent in basal lineages but occur at an intermediate frequency that is randomly distributed within recently emerged clades. The distribution of nitrate assimilation genes within clades appears largely governed by vertical inheritance, gene loss, and homologous recombination. By mapping this process onto a model of Prochlorococcus’ macroevolution, we propose that niche-constructing adaptive radiations and subsequent niche partitioning set the stage for loss of nitrate assimilation genes from basal lineages as they specialized to lower light levels. Retention of these genes in recently emerged lineages has likely been facilitated by selection as they sequentially partitioned into niches where nitrate assimilation conferred a fitness benefit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:42:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/125505 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:42:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1255052022-09-29T15:41:51Z Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus Berube, Paul M. Rasmussen, Anna Braakman, Rogier Chisholm, Sallie W Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecologically important functions. Nitrate assimilation genes are absent in basal lineages but occur at an intermediate frequency that is randomly distributed within recently emerged clades. The distribution of nitrate assimilation genes within clades appears largely governed by vertical inheritance, gene loss, and homologous recombination. By mapping this process onto a model of Prochlorococcus’ macroevolution, we propose that niche-constructing adaptive radiations and subsequent niche partitioning set the stage for loss of nitrate assimilation genes from basal lineages as they specialized to lower light levels. Retention of these genes in recently emerged lineages has likely been facilitated by selection as they sequentially partitioned into niches where nitrate assimilation conferred a fitness benefit. National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant OCE-1153588) National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant DBI-0424599) Simons Foundation (Grant 337262) Simons Foundation (Grant 329108) Simons Foundation (Grant 509034SCFY17) Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant GBMF495) Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant GBMF4511) 2020-05-27T16:17:02Z 2020-05-27T16:17:02Z 2019-02 2020-01-15T17:59:28Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1534-4983 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125505 Berube, Paul M. et al. “Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus.” eLife 8 (2019): e41043 © 2019 The Author(s) en https://dx.doi.org/10.7554/ELIFE.41043 eLife Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd eLife |
| spellingShingle | Berube, Paul M. Rasmussen, Anna Braakman, Rogier Chisholm, Sallie W Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title | Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title_full | Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title_fullStr | Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title_short | Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus |
| title_sort | emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in prochlorococcus |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/125505 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT berubepaulm emergenceoftraitvariabilitythroughthelensofnitrogenassimilationinprochlorococcus AT rasmussenanna emergenceoftraitvariabilitythroughthelensofnitrogenassimilationinprochlorococcus AT braakmanrogier emergenceoftraitvariabilitythroughthelensofnitrogenassimilationinprochlorococcus AT chisholmsalliew emergenceoftraitvariabilitythroughthelensofnitrogenassimilationinprochlorococcus |