Horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of cnidarian stinging cells

Denker, Elsa; Bapteste, Éric; Guyader, Hervé Le; Manuel, Michaël; Rabet, Nicolas

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.07.031

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Poly-␥-glutamate biosynthesis is a crucial feature of nematocytes, and so far, cnidarians represent the only metazoan organisms with this capacity (29). Recently, Denker et al (30) characterized CapA as a nematocyte-specific gene of defined bacterial origin, but the low percentage of horizontal gene transfer candidates in our analysis rejects a bacterial origin of the nematocyst.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 55%

“…Among the remaining orphan proteins, several can be grouped together based on conserved common motifs (see "Experimental Procedures"). Ten proteins in the largest cluster contain the "sweet tooth" domain, which was reported to be among the most abundant extracellular protein domains in the Hydra genome but is not integrated in InterPro yet (30). The three orphan proteins of the second largest cluster share very high sequence identity (Ͼ80%) and are predicted to be globular and to have a nucleotide-binding propensity (see "Experimental Procedures").…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proteome of Hydra Nematocyst

Balasubramanian

Beckmann

Warnken

et al. 2012

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Background: Nematocysts are the most sophisticated organelles in the animal kingdom and a hallmark of the phylum Cnidaria.Results: We present the first complete protein map of the Hydra nematocyst. Conclusion:The nematocyst proteome is highly complex and includes novel structural proteins. Significance: The proteome data reveal a eukaryotic origin of the nematocyst and point to common molecular features with the extracellular matrix.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 55%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proteome of Hydra Nematocyst

Balasubramanian

Beckmann

Warnken

et al. 2012

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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“…Genomic islands often, but not invariably, overlap with the regions of atypical nucleotide content and different codon usage frequencies. The lack of complete correspondence is probably owing to what has been termed amelioration (18), a situation in which, after sufficient time, a transferred region will adopt the nucleotide content of the host chromosome. This is a process that takes tens of millions of years after a genomic island enters a new host.…”

Section: Bacterial Pangenomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary Implications of Horizontal Gene Transfer

2012

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The flow of genes between different species represents a form of genetic variation whose implications have not been fully appreciated. Here I examine some key findings on the extent of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) revealed by comparative genome analysis and their theoretical implications. In theoretical terms, HGT affects ideas pertaining to the tree of life, the notion of a last universal common ancestor, and the biological unities, as well as the rules of taxonomic nomenclature. This review discusses the emergence of the eukaryotic cell and the occurrence of HGT among metazoan phyla involving both transposable elements and structural genes for normal housekeeping functions. I also discuss the bacterial pangenome, which provides an important case study on the permeability of species boundaries. An interesting observation about bdelloid rotifers and their reversion to asexual reproduction as it pertains to HGT is included.

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“…These genes might have been acquired via horizontal gene transfer (Starcevic et al, 2008). For example, during the evolution of cnidarian stinging cells, a subunit of bacterial poly-γ-glutamate (PGA) synthase was transferred to an animal ancestor via horizontal gene transfer (Denker et al, 2008). It has been proposed that in marine environments, horizontal gene transfer is important in adapting to ecological vagaries (Keeling, 2009).…”

Section: The Acropora Digitifera Genomementioning

confidence: 99%

A genomic approach to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: studies of Acropora digitifera and Symbiodinium minutum

et al. 2014

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Far more intimate knowledge of scleractinian coral biology is essential in order to understand how diverse coral-symbiont endosymbioses have been established. In particular, molecular and cellular mechanisms enabling the establishment and maintenance of obligate endosymbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates require further clarification. By extension, such understanding may also shed light upon environmental conditions that promote the collapse of this mutualism. Genomic data undergird studies of all symbiotic processes. Here we review recent genomic data derived from the scleractinian coral, Acropora digitifera, and the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum. We discuss Acropora genes involved in calcification, embryonic development, innate immunity, apoptosis, autophagy, UV resistance, fluorescence, photoreceptors, circadian clocks, etc. We also detail gene loss in amino acid metabolism that may explain at least part of the Acropora stress-response. Characteristic features of the Symbiodinium genome are also reviewed, focusing on the expansion of certain gene families, the molecular basis for permanently condensed chromatin, unique spliceosomal splicing, and unusual gene arrangement. Salient features of the Symbiodinium plastid and mitochondrial genomes are also illuminated. Although many questions regarding these interdependent genomes remain, we summarize information necessary for future studies of coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.

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Horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of cnidarian stinging cells

Cited by 34 publications

References 9 publications

Proteome of Hydra Nematocyst

Proteome of Hydra Nematocyst

Evolutionary Implications of Horizontal Gene Transfer

A genomic approach to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: studies of Acropora digitifera and Symbiodinium minutum

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