This article is part of the supplement: First International Conference on Phylogenomics

Research

The role of laterally transferred genes in adaptive evolution

Pradeep Reddy Marri , Weilong Hao and G Brian Golding

Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada

author email corresponding author email

BMC Evolutionary Biology 2007, 7(Suppl 1):S8doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-S1-S8

Published:	8 February 2007

Abstract

Background

Bacterial genomes develop new mechanisms to tide them over the imposing conditions they encounter during the course of their evolution. Acquisition of new genes by lateral gene transfer may be one of the dominant ways of adaptation in bacterial genome evolution. Lateral gene transfer provides the bacterial genome with a new set of genes that help it to explore and adapt to new ecological niches.

Methods

A maximum likelihood analysis was done on the five sequenced corynebacterial genomes to model the rates of gene insertions/deletions at various depths of the phylogeny.

Results

The study shows that most of the laterally acquired genes are transient and the inferred rates of gene movement are higher on the external branches of the phylogeny and decrease as the phylogenetic depth increases. The newly acquired genes are under relaxed selection and evolve faster than their older counterparts. Analysis of some of the functionally characterised LGTs in each species has indicated that they may have a possible adaptive role.

Conclusion

The five Corynebacterial genomes sequenced to date have evolved by acquiring between 8 – 14% of their genomes by LGT and some of these genes may have a role in adaptation.