A mobile genetic element increases bacterial host fitness by manipulating development
Name
elife-65924-v2.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
561.53 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
6488cd4c9621c2d3569dc1d6af8f5dec
Author(s)
Jones, Joshua M
Grinberg, Ilana
Eldar, Avigdor
Grossman, Alan D
Date Issued
2021
Journal
eLife
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is a major force in bacterial evolution. Mobile genetic elements are responsible for much of horizontal gene transfer and also carry beneficial cargo genes. Uncovering strategies used by mobile genetic elements to benefit host cells is crucial for understanding their stability and spread in populations. We describe a benefit that ICEBs1, an integrative and conjugative element of Bacillus subtilis, provides to its host cells. Activation of ICEBs1 conferred a frequency-dependent selective advantage to host cells during two different developmental processes: biofilm formation and sporulation. These benefits were due to inhibition of biofilm-associated gene expression and delayed sporulation by ICEBs1-containing cells, enabling them to exploit their neighbors and grow more prior to development. A single ICEBs1 gene, devI (formerly ydcO), was both necessary and sufficient for inhibition of development. Manipulation of host developmental programs allows ICEBs1 to increase host fitness, thereby increasing propagation of the element.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.65924
