Gene transfer agents: structural and functional properties of domesticated viruses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gene transfer agents

T2 - structural and functional properties of domesticated viruses

AU - Craske, Matthew W

AU - Wilson, Jason S

AU - Fogg, Paul C M

N1 - © 2024 The Author(s)

PY - 2024/12/3

Y1 - 2024/12/3

N2 - Horizontal exchange of DNA between bacteria and archaea is prevalent and has major potential implications for genome evolution, plasticity, and population fitness. Several transfer mechanisms have been identified, including gene transfer agents (GTAs). GTAs are intricately regulated domesticated viruses that package host DNA into virus-like capsids and transfer this DNA throughout the bacterial community. Several important advances have recently been made in our understanding of these unusual particles. In this review, we highlight some of these findings, primarily for the model GTA produced by Rhodobacter capsulatus but also for newly identified GTA producers. We provide key insights into these important genetic elements, including the differences between GTAs from their ancestral bacteriophages, their regulation and control, and their elusive evolutionary function.

AB - Horizontal exchange of DNA between bacteria and archaea is prevalent and has major potential implications for genome evolution, plasticity, and population fitness. Several transfer mechanisms have been identified, including gene transfer agents (GTAs). GTAs are intricately regulated domesticated viruses that package host DNA into virus-like capsids and transfer this DNA throughout the bacterial community. Several important advances have recently been made in our understanding of these unusual particles. In this review, we highlight some of these findings, primarily for the model GTA produced by Rhodobacter capsulatus but also for newly identified GTA producers. We provide key insights into these important genetic elements, including the differences between GTAs from their ancestral bacteriophages, their regulation and control, and their elusive evolutionary function.

KW - Gene Transfer Agent

KW - Horizontal gene transfer

KW - Evolution

KW - BACTERIA

KW - viruses

KW - DNA Repair

KW - gene regulation

U2 - 10.1016/j.tim.2024.05.002

DO - 10.1016/j.tim.2024.05.002

M3 - Review article

C2 - 38806321

SN - 0966-842X

VL - 32

SP - 1200

EP - 1211

JO - Trends in microbiology

JF - Trends in microbiology

IS - 12

ER -