Vibrio chromosomes share common history.

BMC Microbiol
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

BACKGROUND: While most gamma proteobacteria have a single circular chromosome, Vibrionales have two circular chromosomes. Horizontal gene transfer is common among Vibrios, and in light of this genetic mobility, it is an open question to what extent the two chromosomes themselves share a common history since their formation.

RESULTS: Single copy genes from each chromosome (142 genes from chromosome I and 42 genes from chromosome II) were identified from 19 sequenced Vibrionales genomes and their phylogenetic comparison suggests consistent phylogenies for each chromosome. Additionally, study of the gene organization and phylogeny of the respective origins of replication confirmed the shared history.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, while elements within the chromosomes may have experienced significant genetic mobility, the backbones share a common history. This allows conclusions based on multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) for one chromosome to be applied equally to both chromosomes.

Year of Publication
2010
Journal
BMC Microbiol
Volume
10
Pages
137
Date Published
2010 May 10
ISSN
1471-2180
URL
DOI
10.1186/1471-2180-10-137
PubMed ID
20459749
PubMed Central ID
PMC2875227
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