Horizontal Transfer of Symbiosis Genes within and Between Rhizobial Genera: Occurrence and Importance

Mitchell Andrews; Sofie Meyer; Euan K. James; Tomasz Stępkowski; Simon Hodge; Marcelo F. Simon; J Peter W Young

doi:10.3390/genes9070321

Horizontal Transfer of Symbiosis Genes within and Between Rhizobial Genera: Occurrence and Importance

Mitchell Andrews, Sofie Meyer, Euan K. James, Tomasz Stępkowski, Simon Hodge, Marcelo F. Simon, J Peter W Young

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Rhizobial symbiosis genes are often carried on symbiotic islands or plasmids that can be transferred (horizontal transfer) between different bacterial species. Symbiosis genes involved in horizontal transfer have different phylogenies with respect to the core genome of their ‘host’. Here, the literature on legume–rhizobium symbioses in field soils was reviewed, and cases of phylogenetic incongruence between rhizobium core and symbiosis genes were collated. The occurrence and importance of horizontal transfer of rhizobial symbiosis genes within and between bacterial genera were assessed. Horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial strains is of common occurrence, is widespread geographically, is not restricted to specific rhizobial genera, and occurs within and between rhizobial genera. The transfer of symbiosis genes to bacteria adapted to local soil conditions can allow these bacteria to become rhizobial symbionts of previously incompatible legumes growing in these soils. This, in turn, will have consequences for the growth, life history, and biogeography of the legume species involved, which provides a critical ecological link connecting the horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial bacteria in the soil to the above-ground floral biodiversity and vegetation community structure.

Original language	English
Number of pages	24
Journal	Genes
Volume	9
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/genes9070321
Publication status	Published - 27 Jun 2018

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10.3390/genes9070321

genes-09-00321
© 2018 by the authors.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes9070321

Cite this

@article{1965d037eb5740e6b652c4a26c2644a2,

title = "Horizontal Transfer of Symbiosis Genes within and Between Rhizobial Genera: Occurrence and Importance",

abstract = "Rhizobial symbiosis genes are often carried on symbiotic islands or plasmids that can be transferred (horizontal transfer) between different bacterial species. Symbiosis genes involved in horizontal transfer have different phylogenies with respect to the core genome of their {\textquoteleft}host{\textquoteright}. Here, the literature on legume–rhizobium symbioses in field soils was reviewed, and cases of phylogenetic incongruence between rhizobium core and symbiosis genes were collated. The occurrence and importance of horizontal transfer of rhizobial symbiosis genes within and between bacterial genera were assessed. Horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial strains is of common occurrence, is widespread geographically, is not restricted to specific rhizobial genera, and occurs within and between rhizobial genera. The transfer of symbiosis genes to bacteria adapted to local soil conditions can allow these bacteria to become rhizobial symbionts of previously incompatible legumes growing in these soils. This, in turn, will have consequences for the growth, life history, and biogeography of the legume species involved, which provides a critical ecological link connecting the horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial bacteria in the soil to the above-ground floral biodiversity and vegetation community structure. ",

author = "Mitchell Andrews and Sofie Meyer and James, {Euan K.} and Tomasz St{\c e}pkowski and Simon Hodge and Simon, {Marcelo F.} and Young, {J Peter W}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2018 by the authors. ",

year = "2018",

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doi = "10.3390/genes9070321",

language = "English",

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T1 - Horizontal Transfer of Symbiosis Genes within and Between Rhizobial Genera

T2 - Occurrence and Importance

AU - Andrews, Mitchell

AU - Meyer, Sofie

AU - James, Euan K.

AU - Stępkowski, Tomasz

AU - Hodge, Simon

AU - Simon, Marcelo F.

AU - Young, J Peter W

PY - 2018/6/27

Y1 - 2018/6/27

N2 - Rhizobial symbiosis genes are often carried on symbiotic islands or plasmids that can be transferred (horizontal transfer) between different bacterial species. Symbiosis genes involved in horizontal transfer have different phylogenies with respect to the core genome of their ‘host’. Here, the literature on legume–rhizobium symbioses in field soils was reviewed, and cases of phylogenetic incongruence between rhizobium core and symbiosis genes were collated. The occurrence and importance of horizontal transfer of rhizobial symbiosis genes within and between bacterial genera were assessed. Horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial strains is of common occurrence, is widespread geographically, is not restricted to specific rhizobial genera, and occurs within and between rhizobial genera. The transfer of symbiosis genes to bacteria adapted to local soil conditions can allow these bacteria to become rhizobial symbionts of previously incompatible legumes growing in these soils. This, in turn, will have consequences for the growth, life history, and biogeography of the legume species involved, which provides a critical ecological link connecting the horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial bacteria in the soil to the above-ground floral biodiversity and vegetation community structure.

AB - Rhizobial symbiosis genes are often carried on symbiotic islands or plasmids that can be transferred (horizontal transfer) between different bacterial species. Symbiosis genes involved in horizontal transfer have different phylogenies with respect to the core genome of their ‘host’. Here, the literature on legume–rhizobium symbioses in field soils was reviewed, and cases of phylogenetic incongruence between rhizobium core and symbiosis genes were collated. The occurrence and importance of horizontal transfer of rhizobial symbiosis genes within and between bacterial genera were assessed. Horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial strains is of common occurrence, is widespread geographically, is not restricted to specific rhizobial genera, and occurs within and between rhizobial genera. The transfer of symbiosis genes to bacteria adapted to local soil conditions can allow these bacteria to become rhizobial symbionts of previously incompatible legumes growing in these soils. This, in turn, will have consequences for the growth, life history, and biogeography of the legume species involved, which provides a critical ecological link connecting the horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial bacteria in the soil to the above-ground floral biodiversity and vegetation community structure.

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DO - 10.3390/genes9070321

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