The Repertoire of ICE in Prokaryotes Underscores the Unity, Diversity, and Ubiquity of Conjugation
Author Information
Author(s): Guglielmini Julien, Quintais Leonor, Garcillán-Barcia Maria Pilar, de la Cruz Fernando, Rocha Eduardo P. C.
Primary Institution: Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Département Génomes et Génétique, Paris, France
Hypothesis
ICEs and conjugative plasmids have different means of genomic stabilization, but their mechanisms of mobility by conjugation show strikingly conserved patterns.
Conclusion
ICEs are the most abundant conjugative elements in practically all prokaryotic clades and might be more frequently domesticated into non-conjugative protein transport systems than previously thought.
Supporting Evidence
- 682 putative conjugative systems were identified among all major phylogenetic clades.
- Nearly half of the genomes contain a type IV secretion system (T4SS).
- ICEs are more numerous than conjugative plasmids, with 86% more ICEs found.
Takeaway
Bacteria can share genes with each other through special DNA pieces called ICEs, which are very common and help them adapt quickly.
Methodology
The study scanned over 1,000 prokaryotic genomes for conjugative systems using protein profiles of the conjugation machinery.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in sequencing projects may lead to underrepresentation of plasmids.
Limitations
The presence of T4SS not used for conjugation may obscure the identification of conjugation systems.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed 1,124 complete prokaryotic genomes, including 1,207 chromosomes and 891 plasmids.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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