Evidence of intermolecular recombination between extrachromosomal DNAs in phytoplasma: a trigger for the biological diversity of phytoplasma?

Microbiology (Reading). 2002 May;148(Pt 5):1389-1396. doi: 10.1099/00221287-148-5-1389.

Abstract

Recombination among bacterial extrachromosomal DNAs (EC-DNAs) plays a major evolutionary role by creating genetic diversity, and provides the potential for rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. Previously, a 7 kbp EC-DNA, EcOYW1, with a geminivirus-like rolling-circle-replication protein (Rep) gene was isolated and characterized from an original wild-type line (OY-W) of onion yellows (OY) phytoplasma, an endocellular cell-wall-less prokaryote that inhabits the cytoplasm of both plant and insect cells. EcOYW1, found in OY-W, was not present in a mild-symptom line (OY-M) derived from OY-W. A 4 kbp EC-DNA, pOYW, was also isolated and characterized from OY-W, and its pLS1-plasmid-like rep gene was expressed. This paper describes the isolation and sequencing of an EC-DNA of 5560 nt, EcOYW2, from OY-W, and its counterpart EC-DNA of 5025 nt, EcOYM, from OY-M. EcOYW2 and EcOYM contained seven and six ORFs, respectively. They both encoded a geminivirus-like Rep and a putative single-stranded-DNA-binding protein (SSB). Southern blot analysis indicated that no more EC-DNAs with a rep gene exist in either OY-W or OY-M, which means that the complete set of EC-DNAs has been cloned from the OY-W and OY-M lines of OY phytoplasmas. Sequence analysis revealed that both EcOYW2 and EcOYM have chimeric structures of previously characterized EcOYW1 and pOYW, suggesting that they have a recombinational origin. This is the first evidence of intermolecular recombination between EC-DNAs in phytoplasma. The possible implications of these findings in increasing the biological diversity of phytoplasma are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Replication / genetics
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genetic Variation / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Plants / microbiology
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Recombination, Genetic / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Tenericutes / chemistry
  • Tenericutes / cytology*
  • Tenericutes / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • replication initiator protein
  • DNA Helicases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB076262
  • GENBANK/AB076263