New evidence supports the prophage origin of RcGTA
Yongle Xu,
Binbin Liu,
Nianzhi Jiao
et al.
Abstract:Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are phage-like entities that package and transfer random host genome fragments between prokaryotes. RcGTA, produced by
Rhodobacter capsulatus
, is hypothesized to originate from a prophage ancestor. Most of the evidence supporting this hypothesis came from the finding of RcGTA-like genes in phages. More than 75% of the RcGTA genes have a phage homolog. However, only a few RcGTA homologs have been identified in a (pro)phage genome, leaving the hypothesis t… Show more
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