The dynamics and time scale of ongoing genomic erosion in symbiotic bacteria

Science
Nancy A MoranRotem Sorek

Abstract

Among cellular organisms, symbiotic bacteria provide the extreme examples of genome degradation and reduction. However, only isolated snapshots of eroding symbiont genomes have previously been available. We documented the dynamics of symbiont genome evolution by sequencing seven strains of Buchnera aphidicola from pea aphid hosts. We estimated a spontaneous mutation rate of at least 4 x 10(-9) substitutions per site per replication, which is more than 10 times as high as the rates previously estimated for any bacteria. We observed a high rate of small insertions and deletions associated with abundant DNA homopolymers, and occasional larger deletions. Although purifying selection eliminates many mutations, some persist, resulting in ongoing loss of genes and DNA from this already tiny genome. Our results provide a general model for the stepwise process leading to genome reduction.

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Citations

Mar 11, 2011·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Shuji Shigenobu, Alex C C Wilson
Oct 7, 2010·Parasitology Research·Suchi TyagiAparup Das
May 25, 2010·Protoplasma·Emily L ClarkStephen F Hubbard
Feb 2, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Allison K Hansen, Nancy A Moran
Dec 29, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yujun CuiRuifu Yang
Oct 19, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Way SungMichael Lynch
May 14, 2009·DNA and Cell Biology·Jennifer J Wernegreen, Diana E Wheeler
Sep 11, 2010·Genome Biology and Evolution·John P McCutcheon, Nancy A Moran
Aug 9, 2011·Genome Biology and Evolution·Michael Lynch
Nov 26, 2011·Genome Biology and Evolution·Yogeshwar D Kelkar, Howard Ochman
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