An updated assembly strategy helps parsing the cryptic mitochondrial genome evolution in plants

Although plant mitogenomes are small in size, their variations are no less than any other complex genomes. They are under rapid structure and size changes. These characters make the assembly a great challenge. This caused two intertwined problems, a slow growth of known mitogenomes and a poor knowledge of their evolution. In many species, mitogenome becomes the last genome that undeciphered. To have a better understanding of these two questions, we developed a strategy using short sequencing reads and combining current tools and manual steps to get high quality mitogenomes. This strategy allowed us to assembled 23 complete mitogenomes from 5 families in Fagales. Our large-scale comparative genomic analyses indicated the composition of mitogenomes is very mosaic that “horizontal transfers” can be from almost all taxa in seed plants. The largest mitogenome contains more homologous DNA with other Fagales, rather than unique sequences. Besides of real HGTs, sometimes mitovirus, nuclear insertions and other third-part DNA could also produce HGT-like sequences, accounting partially for the unusual evolutionary trajectories, including the cryptic size expansion in Carpinus. Mitochondrial plasmid was also found. Its lower GC content indicates that it may be only an interphase of a foreign DNA before accepting by the main chromosome. Our methods and results provide new insights into the assembly and mechanisms of mitogenome evolution.

Genome Plasticity by Insertion Sequences Learned From a Case of Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis

The genome of the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis contains 19 types of insertion sequences (ISs), including 93 total transposases (Tpases) in 73 full-length ISs from the main chromosome and 2 mega plasmids. In this study, 68 ISs from the D. geothermalis genome were extracted to implicate the earlier genome before its mutation by transposition of ISs. The total size of eliminated ISs from genome was 78.85 kb. From these in silico corrections of mutation by the ISs, we have become aware of some bioinformatics factualness as follows: (1) can reassemble the disrupted genes if the exact IS region was eliminated, (2) can configure the schematic clustering of major DDE type Tpases, (3) can determine IS integration order across multiple hot spots, and (4) can compare genetic relativeness by the partial synteny analysis between D. geothermalis and Deinococcus strain S9. Recently, we found that several IS elements actively transferred to other genomic sites under hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress conditions, resulting in the inactivation of functional genes. Therefore, the single species genome’s mobilome study provides significant support to define bacterial genome plasticity and molecular evolution from past and present progressive transposition events.

BUB-1 targets PP2A:B56 to regulate chromosome congression during meiosis I in C. elegans oocytes

Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a heterotrimer composed of scaffolding (A), catalytic (C), and regulatory (B) subunits. PP2A complexes with B56 subunits are targeted by Shugoshin and BUBR1 to protect centromeric cohesion and stabilise kinetochore–microtubule attachments in yeast and mouse meiosis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the closest BUBR1 orthologue lacks the B56-interaction domain and Shugoshin is not required for meiotic segregation. Therefore, the role of PP2A in C. elegans female meiosis is unknown. We report that PP2A is essential for meiotic spindle assembly and chromosome dynamics during C. elegans female meiosis. BUB-1 is the main chromosome-targeting factor for B56 subunits during prometaphase I. BUB-1 recruits PP2A:B56 to the chromosomes via a newly identified LxxIxE motif in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, and this recruitment is important for proper chromosome congression. Our results highlight a novel mechanism for B56 recruitment, essential for recruiting a pool of PP2A involved in chromosome congression during meiosis I.

Genome Sequence of Pluralibacter gergoviae ECO77, a Multireplicon Isolate of Industrial Origin

In order to expand the limited understanding of the genomics of antimicrobial-resistant industrial bacteria, we report the genome sequence of Pluralibacter gergoviae ECO77, a historical contaminant strain of industrial origin. The multireplicon 6.16-Mbp genome of ECO77 consists of a 5.37-Mbp main chromosome, a megaplasmid (605,666 bp), and a large plasmid (182,007 bp).

Complete Genome Sequence of the Predatory Bacterium Ensifer adhaerens Casida A

ABSTRACT We report here the complete genome sequence of the facultative predatory bacterium Ensifer adhaerens strain Casida A. The genome was assembled into three circular contigs, with a main chromosome as well as two large secondary replicons, that totaled 7,267,502 bp with 6,641 predicted open reading frames.

Whole genome sequence and comparative analysis ofBorrelia burgdorferiMM1

Lyme disease is caused by spirochaetes of theBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato genospecies. Complete genome assemblies are available for fewer than ten strains ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu stricto, the primary cause of Lyme disease in North America. MM1 is a sensu stricto strain originally isolated in the midwestern United States. Aside from a small number of genes, the complete genome sequence of this strain has not been reported. Here we present the complete genome sequence of MM1 in relation to other sensu stricto strains and in terms of its Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Our results indicate that MM1 is a new sequence type which contains a conserved main chromosome and 15 plasmids. Our results include the first contiguous 28.5 kb assembly of lp28-8, a linear plasmid carrying thevlsantigenic variation system, from aBorrelia burgdorferisensu stricto strain.

Bacterial clade with the ribosomal RNA operon on a small plasmid rather than the chromosome

rRNA is essential for life because of its functional importance in protein synthesis. The rRNA (rrn) operon encoding 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNAs is located on the “main” chromosome in all bacteria documented to date and is frequently used as a marker of chromosomes. Here, our genome analysis of a plant-associated alphaproteobacterium,Aureimonassp. AU20, indicates that this strain has its solerrnoperon on a small (9.4 kb), high-copy-number replicon. We designated this unusual replicon carrying therrnoperon on the background of anrrn-lacking chromosome (RLC) as therrn-plasmid. Four of 12 strains close to AU20 also had this RLC/rrn-plasmid organization. Phylogenetic analysis showed that those strains having the RLC/rrn-plasmid organization represented one clade within the genusAureimonas. Our finding introduces a previously unaddressed viewpoint into studies of genetics, genomics, and evolution in microbiology and biology in general.

CRISPR system acquisition and evolution of an obligate intracellular Chlamydia-related bacterium

Recently, a new Chlamydia-related organism, Protochlamydia naegleriophila KNic, was discovered within a Naegleria amoeba. To decipher the mechanisms at play in the modeling of genomes from the Protochlamydia genus, we sequenced de novo the full genome of Pr. naegleriophila combining the advantages of two second-generation sequencing technologies. The assembled complete genome comprises a 2,885,111 bp chromosome and a 145,285 bp megaplasmid. For the first time within the Chlamydiales order, a CRISPR system, the immune system of bacteria, was discovered on the chromosome. It is composed of a small CRISPR locus comprising eight repeats and the associated cas and cse genes of the subtype I-E. A CRISPR locus was also found within Chlamydia sp. Diamant, another Pr. naegleriophila strain whose genome was recently released, suggesting that the CRISPR system was acquired by a common ancestor of these two members of Pr. naegleriophila, after the divergence from Pr. amoebophila. The plasmid encodes an F-type conjugative system similar to that found in the Pam100G genomic island of Pr. amoebophila suggesting an acquisition of this conjugative system before the divergence of both Protochlamydia species and the integration of a putative Pr. amoebophila plasmid into its main chromosome giving rise to the Pam100G genomic island. Overall, this new Pr. naegleriophila genome sequence enables to investigate further the dynamic processes shaping the genomes of Chlamydia-related bacteria.

Multiple replication origins with diverse control mechanisms in Haloarcula hispanica

The use of multiple replication origins in archaea is not well understood. In particular, little is known about their specific control mechanisms. Here, we investigated the active replication origins in the three replicons of a halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula hispanica, by extensive gene deletion, DNA mutation and genome-wide marker frequency analyses. We revealed that individual origins are specifically dependent on their co-located cdc6 genes, and a single active origin/cdc6 pairing is essential and sufficient for each replicon. Notably, we demonstrated that the activities of oriC1 and oriC2, the two origins on the main chromosome, are differently controlled. A G-rich inverted repeat located in the internal region between the two inverted origin recognition boxes (ORBs) plays as an enhancer for oriC1, whereas the replication initiation at oriC2 is negatively regulated by an ORB-rich region located downstream of oriC2-cdc6E, likely via Cdc6E-titrating. The oriC2 placed on a plasmid is incompatible with the wild-type (but not the ΔoriC2) host strain, further indicating that strict control of the oriC2 activity is important for the cell. This is the first report revealing diverse control mechanisms of origins in haloarchaea, which has provided novel insights into the use and coordination of multiple replication origins in the domain of Archaea.

Distribution of cp32 Prophages among Lyme Disease-Causing Spirochetes and Natural Diversity of Their Lipoprotein-EncodingerpLoci

ABSTRACTLyme disease spirochetes possess complex genomes, consisting of a main chromosome and 20 or more smaller replicons. Among those small DNAs are the cp32 elements, a family of prophages that replicate as circular episomes. All complete cp32s contain anerplocus, which encodes surface-exposed proteins. Sequences were compared for all 193erpalleles carried by 22 different strains of Lyme disease-causing spirochete to investigate their natural diversity and evolutionary histories. These included multiple isolates from a focus where Lyme disease is endemic in the northeastern United States and isolates from across North America and Europe. Bacteria were derived from diseased humans and from vector ticks and included members of 5 differentBorreliagenospecies. Allerpoperon 5′-noncoding regions were found to be highly conserved, as were the initial 70 to 80 bp of allerpopen reading frames, traits indicative of a common evolutionary origin. However, the majority of the protein-coding regions are highly diverse, due to numerous intra- and intergenic recombination events. Mosterpalleles are chimeras derived from sequences of closely related and distantly relatederpsequences and from unknown origins. Since known functions of Erp surface proteins involve interactions with various host tissue components, this diversity may reflect both their multiple functions and the abilities of Lyme disease-causing spirochetes to successfully infect a wide variety of vertebrate host species.