Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus .
| Autor: | Berube PM; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States., Rasmussen A; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States., Braakman R; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States., Stepanauskas R; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, United States., Chisholm SW; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | ELife [Elife] 2019 Feb 01; Vol. 8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Feb 01. |
| DOI: | 10.7554/eLife.41043 |
| Abstrakt: | 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. Competing Interests: PB, AR, RB, RS, SC No competing interests declared (© 2019, Berube et al.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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