Acquisition of pcnB [poly(A) polymerase I] genes via horizontal transfer from the β, γ- Proteobacteria

Microb Genom. 2021 Feb;7(2):000508. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000508.

Abstract

Poly(A) polymerases (PAPs) and tRNA nucleotidyltransferases belong to a superfamily of nucleotidyltransferases and modify RNA 3'-ends. The product of the pcnB gene, PAP I, has been characterized in a few β-, γ- and δ-Proteobacteria. Using the PAP I signature sequence, putative PAPs were identified in bacterial species from the α- and ε-Proteobacteria and from four other bacterial phyla (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Aquificae). Phylogenetic analysis, alien index and G+C content calculations strongly suggest that the PAPs in the species identified in this study arose by horizontal gene transfer from the β- and γ-Proteobacteria.

Keywords: horizontal gene transfer; pcnB; poly(A) polymerase; polyadenylation; tRNA nucleotidyltransferase.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Base Composition
  • Betaproteobacteria / classification
  • Betaproteobacteria / enzymology*
  • Betaproteobacteria / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gammaproteobacteria / classification
  • Gammaproteobacteria / enzymology*
  • Gammaproteobacteria / genetics
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Phylogeny
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase