Dataset Information

Azospirillum genomes reveal transition of bacteria from aquatic to terrestrial environments.

ABSTRACT: Fossil records indicate that life appeared in marine environments ?3.5 billion years ago (Gyr) and transitioned to terrestrial ecosystems nearly 2.5 Gyr. Sequence analysis suggests that "hydrobacteria" and "terrabacteria" might have diverged as early as 3 Gyr. Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum are associated with roots of terrestrial plants; however, virtually all their close relatives are aquatic. We obtained genome sequences of two Azospirillum species and analyzed their gene origins. While most Azospirillum house-keeping genes have orthologs in its close aquatic relatives, this lineage has obtained nearly half of its genome from terrestrial organisms. The majority of genes encoding functions critical for association with plants are among horizontally transferred genes. Our results show that transition of some aquatic bacteria to terrestrial habitats occurred much later than the suggested initial divergence of hydro- and terrabacterial clades. The birth of the genus Azospirillum approximately coincided with the emergence of vascular plants on land.

SUBMITTER: Wisniewski-Dye F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245306 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Azospirillum genomes reveal transition of bacteria from aquatic to terrestrial environments.

Wisniewski-Dyé Florence F Borziak Kirill K Khalsa-Moyers Gurusahai G Alexandre Gladys G Sukharnikov Leonid O LO Wuichet Kristin K Hurst Gregory B GB McDonald W Hayes WH Robertson Jon S JS Barbe Valérie V Calteau Alexandra A Rouy Zoé Z Mangenot Sophie S Prigent-Combaret Claire C Normand Philippe P Boyer Mickaël M Siguier Patricia P Dessaux Yves Y Elmerich Claudine C Condemine Guy G Krishnen Ganisan G Kennedy Ivan I Paterson Andrew H AH González Victor V Mavingui Patrick P Zhulin Igor B IB

PLoS genetics 20111222 12

Fossil records indicate that life appeared in marine environments ∼3.5 billion years ago (Gyr) and transitioned to terrestrial ecosystems nearly 2.5 Gyr. Sequence analysis suggests that "hydrobacteria" and "terrabacteria" might have diverged as early as 3 Gyr. Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum are associated with roots of terrestrial plants; however, virtually all their close relatives are aquatic. We obtained genome sequences of two Azospirillum species and analyzed their gene origins. While m ...[more]

PMID: 22216014

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Dataset Information

Azospirillum genomes reveal transition of bacteria from aquatic to terrestrial environments.

Publications

Azospirillum genomes reveal transition of bacteria from aquatic to terrestrial environments.

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