Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
Name
elife-41043-v2.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
1.97 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
8822d54c432cc01b5d91d653622aa442
Author(s)
Berube, Paul M.
Rasmussen, Anna
Braakman, Rogier
Chisholm, Sallie W
Date Issued
February 2019
Journal
eLife
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Citation
Berube, Paul M. et al. “Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus.” eLife 8 (2019): e41043 © 2019 The Author(s)
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecologically important functions. Nitrate assimilation genes are absent in basal lineages but occur at an intermediate frequency that is randomly distributed within recently emerged clades. The distribution of nitrate assimilation genes within clades appears largely governed by vertical inheritance, gene loss, and homologous recombination. By mapping this process onto a model of Prochlorococcus’ macroevolution, we propose that niche-constructing adaptive radiations and subsequent niche partitioning set the stage for loss of nitrate assimilation genes from basal lineages as they specialized to lower light levels. Retention of these genes in recently emerged lineages has likely been facilitated by selection as they sequentially partitioned into niches where nitrate assimilation conferred a fitness benefit.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.7554/ELIFE.41043
