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Widespread impact of horizontal gene transfer on plant colonization of land
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Widespread impact of horizontal gene transfer on plant colonization of land
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Journal Article
Widespread impact of horizontal gene transfer on plant colonization of land
2012
Overview
In complex multicellular eukaryotes such as animals and plants, horizontal gene transfer is commonly considered rare with very limited evolutionary significance. Here we show that horizontal gene transfer is a dynamic process occurring frequently in the early evolution of land plants. Our genome analyses of the moss
Physcomitrella patens
identified 57 families of nuclear genes that were acquired from prokaryotes, fungi or viruses. Many of these gene families were transferred to the ancestors of green or land plants. Available experimental evidence shows that these anciently acquired genes are involved in some essential or plant-specific activities such as xylem formation, plant defence, nitrogen recycling as well as the biosynthesis of starch, polyamines, hormones and glutathione. These findings suggest that horizontal gene transfer had a critical role in the transition of plants from aquatic to terrestrial environments. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model of horizontal gene transfer mechanism in nonvascular and seedless vascular plants.
Although horizontal gene transfer is prevalent in microorganisms, such sharing of genetic information is thought to be rare in land plants. Focusing on the sequenced moss species,
Physcomitrella patens
, these authors report genes acquired from microorganisms, which might have facilitated early evolution of land plants.
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Pub. Group
