Biomaterial Database

Where are the pseudogenes in bacterial genomes? 2001

J G Lawrence, and R W Hendrix, and S Casjens

Pittsburgh Bacteriophage Institute and Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. jlawrenc+@pitt.edu

Most bacterial genomes have very few pseudogenes; notable exceptions include the genomes of the intracellular parasites Rickettsia prowazekii and Mycobacterium leprae. As DNA can be introduced into microbial genomes in many ways, the compact nature of these genomes suggests that the rate of DNA influx is balanced by the rate of DNA deletion. We propose that the influx of dangerous genetic elements such as transposons and bacteriophages selects for the maintenance of relatively high deletion rates in most bacteria; the sheltered lifestyle of intracellular parasites removes this threat, leading to reduced deletion rates and larger pseudogene loads.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008242	Lysogeny	The phenomenon by which a temperate phage incorporates itself into the DNA of a bacterial host, establishing a kind of symbiotic relation between PROPHAGE and bacterium which results in the perpetuation of the prophage in all the descendants of the bacterium. Upon induction (VIRUS ACTIVATION) by various agents, such as ultraviolet radiation, the phage is released, which then becomes virulent and lyses the bacterium.	Integration, Prophage,Prophage Integration,Integrations, Prophage,Prophage Integrations
D008957	Models, Genetic	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of genetic processes or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Genetic Models,Genetic Model,Model, Genetic
D011544	Pseudogenes	Genes bearing close resemblance to known genes at different loci, but rendered non-functional by additions or deletions in structure that prevent normal transcription or translation. When lacking introns and containing a poly-A segment near the downstream end (as a result of reverse copying from processed nuclear RNA into double-stranded DNA), they are called processed genes.	Genes, Processed,beta-Tubulin Pseudogene,Gene, Processed,Processed Gene,Processed Genes,Pseudogene,Pseudogene, beta-Tubulin,Pseudogenes, beta-Tubulin,beta Tubulin Pseudogene,beta-Tubulin Pseudogenes
D002876	Chromosomes, Bacterial	Structures within the nucleus of bacterial cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.	Bacterial Chromosome,Bacterial Chromosomes,Chromosome, Bacterial
D004251	DNA Transposable Elements	Discrete segments of DNA which can excise and reintegrate to another site in the genome. Most are inactive, i.e., have not been found to exist outside the integrated state. DNA transposable elements include bacterial IS (insertion sequence) elements, Tn elements, the maize controlling elements Ac and Ds, Drosophila P, gypsy, and pogo elements, the human Tigger elements and the Tc and mariner elements which are found throughout the animal kingdom.	DNA Insertion Elements,DNA Transposons,IS Elements,Insertion Sequence Elements,Tn Elements,Transposable Elements,Elements, Insertion Sequence,Sequence Elements, Insertion,DNA Insertion Element,DNA Transposable Element,DNA Transposon,Element, DNA Insertion,Element, DNA Transposable,Element, IS,Element, Insertion Sequence,Element, Tn,Element, Transposable,Elements, DNA Insertion,Elements, DNA Transposable,Elements, IS,Elements, Tn,Elements, Transposable,IS Element,Insertion Element, DNA,Insertion Elements, DNA,Insertion Sequence Element,Sequence Element, Insertion,Tn Element,Transposable Element,Transposable Element, DNA,Transposable Elements, DNA,Transposon, DNA,Transposons, DNA
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001435	Bacteriophages	Viruses whose hosts are bacterial cells.	Phages,Bacteriophage,Phage
D016680	Genome, Bacterial	The genetic complement of a BACTERIA as represented in its DNA.	Bacterial Genome,Bacterial Genomes,Genomes, Bacterial
D017353	Gene Deletion	A genetic rearrangement through loss of segments of DNA or RNA, bringing sequences which are normally separated into close proximity. This deletion may be detected using cytogenetic techniques and can also be inferred from the phenotype, indicating a deletion at one specific locus.	Deletion, Gene,Deletions, Gene,Gene Deletions
D022761	Gene Transfer, Horizontal	The naturally occurring transmission of genetic information between organisms, related or unrelated, circumventing parent-to-offspring transmission. Horizontal gene transfer may occur via a variety of naturally occurring processes such as GENETIC CONJUGATION; GENETIC TRANSDUCTION; and TRANSFECTION. It may result in a change of the recipient organism's genetic composition (TRANSFORMATION, GENETIC).	Gene Transfer, Lateral,Horizontal Gene Transfer,Lateral Gene Transfer,Recombination, Interspecies,Recombination, Interspecific,Gene Transfers, Lateral,Interspecies Recombination,Interspecific Recombination,Lateral Gene Transfers