Horizontal Gene Transfer, Dispersal and Haloarchaeal Speciation

Life

R. Thane Papke¹  Paulina Corral³  Nikhil Ram-Mohan¹  Rafael R. de la Haba³  Cristina Sánchez-Porro³  Andrea Makkay¹  Antonio Ventosa³  Hans-Peter Klenk²  Michael W. W. Adams² 

[1] Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; E-Mails:Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA;;Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain; E-Mails:

关键词: Haloarchaea;    speciation;    biogeography;    homologous recombination;    horizontal gene transfer;    population genetics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life5021405

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The Halobacteria are a well-studied archaeal class and numerous investigations are showing how their diversity is distributed amongst genomes and geographic locations. Evidence indicates that recombination between species continuously facilitates the arrival of new genes, and within species, it is frequent enough to spread acquired genes amongst all individuals in the population. To create permanent independent diversity and generate new species, barriers to recombination are probably required. The data support an interpretation that rates of evolution (e.g., horizontal gene transfer and mutation) are faster at creating geographically localized variation than dispersal and invasion are at homogenizing genetic differences between locations. Therefore, we suggest that recurrent episodes of dispersal followed by variable periods of endemism break the homogenizing forces of intrapopulation recombination and that this process might be the principal stimulus leading to divergence and speciation in Halobacteria.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.