Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is one of the most important drivers of bacterial evolution.
Transformation by uptake of extracellular DNA is traditionally not considered
to be an effective mode of gene acquisition, simply because extracellular
DNA is degraded in a matter of days when it is suspended in e.g. seawater.
Recently the age span of stored DNA was increased to at least 2 Ma. Here, we
show that Acinetobacter baylyi can incorporate 60 bp DNA fragments adsorbed
to common sedimentary minerals and that the transformation frequencies scale
with mineral surface properties. Our work highlights that ancient environmental
DNA can fuel the evolution of contemporary bacteria. In contrast to heritable
stochastic mutations, the processes by which bacteria acquire new genomic material
during times of increased stress and needs, indicate a non-random mechanism
that may propel evolution in a non-stochastic manner
Transformation by uptake of extracellular DNA is traditionally not considered
to be an effective mode of gene acquisition, simply because extracellular
DNA is degraded in a matter of days when it is suspended in e.g. seawater.
Recently the age span of stored DNA was increased to at least 2 Ma. Here, we
show that Acinetobacter baylyi can incorporate 60 bp DNA fragments adsorbed
to common sedimentary minerals and that the transformation frequencies scale
with mineral surface properties. Our work highlights that ancient environmental
DNA can fuel the evolution of contemporary bacteria. In contrast to heritable
stochastic mutations, the processes by which bacteria acquire new genomic material
during times of increased stress and needs, indicate a non-random mechanism
that may propel evolution in a non-stochastic manner
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
---|---|
Artikelnummer | 1449094 |
Tidsskrift | Frontiers in Microbiology |
Vol/bind | 15 |
Antal sider | 11 |
ISSN | 1664-302X |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 2024 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by a research grant from VILLUM FONDEN grant 00025352.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Verma, Hendiani, Carbajo, Andersen, Hammarlund, Burmølle and Sand.