Kim JI

Kodama M

Krieg NR

Lang BF

Ott DW

Open Biology


            Acquisition of genes by plastid genomes (plastomes) via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) seems to be a rare phenomenon. Here, we report an interesting case of HGT revealed by sequencing the plastomes of the eustigmatophyte algae
            Monodopsis
            sp. MarTras21 and
            Vischeria
            sp. CAUP Q 202. These plastomes proved to harbour a unique cluster of six genes, most probably acquired from a bacterium of the phylum Bacteroidetes, with homologues in various bacteria, typically organized in a conserved uncharacterized putative operon. Sequence analyses of the six proteins encoded by the operon yielded the following annotation for them: (i) a novel family without discernible homologues; (ii) a new family within the superfamily of metallo-dependent hydrolases; (iii) a novel subgroup of the UbiA superfamily of prenyl transferases; (iv) a new clade within the sugar phosphate cyclase superfamily; (v) a new family within the xylose isomerase-like superfamily; and (vi) a hydrolase for a phosphate moiety-containing substrate. We suggest that the operon encodes enzymes of a pathway synthesizing an isoprenoid–cyclitol-derived compound, possibly an antimicrobial or other protective substance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an expansion of the metabolic capacity of a plastid mediated by HGT into the plastid genome.
          </jats:p

Tatiana Yurchenko

Tereza Ševčíková

Hynek Strnad

Anzhelika Butenko

Marek Eliáš

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The plastid genome of some eustigmatophyte algae harbours a bacteria-derived six-gene cluster for biosynthesis of a novel secondary metabolite

The plastid genome of some eustigmatophyte algae harbours a bacteria-derived six-gene cluster for biosynthesis of a novel secondary metabolite

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