Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column
Plasmids are mobile genetic elements known to carry secondary metabolic genes that affect the fitness and survival of microbes in the environment. Well-studied cases of plasmid-encoded secondary metabolic genes in marine habitats include toxin/antitoxin and antibiotic biosynthesis/resistance genes....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155073 |
| _version_ | 1811070206903058432 |
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| author | Mara, Paraskevi Geller-McGrath, David Suter, Elizabeth Taylor, Gordon T. Pachiadaki, Maria G. Edgcomb, Virginia P. |
| author_facet | Mara, Paraskevi Geller-McGrath, David Suter, Elizabeth Taylor, Gordon T. Pachiadaki, Maria G. Edgcomb, Virginia P. |
| author_sort | Mara, Paraskevi |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Plasmids are mobile genetic elements known to carry secondary metabolic genes that affect the fitness and survival of microbes in the environment. Well-studied cases of plasmid-encoded secondary metabolic genes in marine habitats include toxin/antitoxin and antibiotic biosynthesis/resistance genes. Here, we examine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the permanently-stratified water column of the Cariaco Basin for integrated plasmids that encode biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites (smBGCs). We identify 16 plasmid-borne smBGCs in MAGs associated primarily with Planctomycetota and Pseudomonadota that encode terpene-synthesizing genes, and genes for production of ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptides. These identified genes encode for secondary metabolites that are mainly antimicrobial agents, and hence, their uptake via plasmids may increase the competitive advantage of those host taxa that acquire them. The ecological and evolutionary significance of smBGCs carried by prokaryotes in oxygen-depleted water columns is yet to be fully elucidated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:32:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/155073 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:32:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1550732024-05-25T04:01:12Z Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column Mara, Paraskevi Geller-McGrath, David Suter, Elizabeth Taylor, Gordon T. Pachiadaki, Maria G. Edgcomb, Virginia P. Plasmids are mobile genetic elements known to carry secondary metabolic genes that affect the fitness and survival of microbes in the environment. Well-studied cases of plasmid-encoded secondary metabolic genes in marine habitats include toxin/antitoxin and antibiotic biosynthesis/resistance genes. Here, we examine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the permanently-stratified water column of the Cariaco Basin for integrated plasmids that encode biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites (smBGCs). We identify 16 plasmid-borne smBGCs in MAGs associated primarily with Planctomycetota and Pseudomonadota that encode terpene-synthesizing genes, and genes for production of ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptides. These identified genes encode for secondary metabolites that are mainly antimicrobial agents, and hence, their uptake via plasmids may increase the competitive advantage of those host taxa that acquire them. The ecological and evolutionary significance of smBGCs carried by prokaryotes in oxygen-depleted water columns is yet to be fully elucidated. 2024-05-24T19:20:40Z 2024-05-24T19:20:40Z 2024-05-02 2024-05-24T13:04:54Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 2076-2607 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155073 Mara, P.; Geller-McGrath, D.; Suter, E.; Taylor, G.T.; Pachiadaki, M.G.; Edgcomb, V.P. Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 929. PUBLISHER_CC 10.3390/microorganisms12050929 Microorganisms Creative Commons Attribution https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf MDPI AG Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| spellingShingle | Mara, Paraskevi Geller-McGrath, David Suter, Elizabeth Taylor, Gordon T. Pachiadaki, Maria G. Edgcomb, Virginia P. Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title | Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title_full | Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title_fullStr | Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title_short | Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column |
| title_sort | plasmid borne biosynthetic gene clusters within a permanently stratified marine water column |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155073 |
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