ancient gene transfer from algae to animals mechanisms and evolutionary significance古老的基因转移机制和从藻类到动物的进化意义.pdfVIP

Ni et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2012, 12:83 /1471-2148/12/1/83 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Ancient gene transfer from algae to animals: Mechanisms and evolutionary significance 1,2† 3† 3 1,2 1* 3* Ting Ni , Jipei Yue , Guiling Sun , Yong Zou , Jianfan Wen and Jinling Huang Abstract Background: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is traditionally considered to be rare in multicellular eukaryotes such as animals. Recently, many genes of miscellaneous algal origins were discovered in choanoflagellates. Considering that choanoflagellates are the existing closest relatives of animals, we speculated that ancient HGT might have occurred in the unicellular ancestor of animals and affected the long-term evolution of animals. Results: Through genome screening, phylogenetic and domain analyses, we identified 14 gene families, including 92 genes, in the tunicate Ciona intestinalis that are likely derived from miscellaneous photosynthetic eukaryotes. Almost all of these gene families are distributed in diverse animals, suggesting that they were mostly acquired by the common ancestor of animals. Their miscellaneous origins also suggest that these genes are not derived from a particular algal endosymbiont. In addition, most genes identified in our analyses are functionally related to molecule transport, cellular regulation and methylation signaling, suggesting that the acquisition of these genes might have facilitated the intercellular communication in the ancestral animal. Conclusions: Our findings provide additional evidence that algal genes in aplastidic eukaryotes are not exclusively derived from historical plastids and thus important for interpreting the evolution of eukaryotic photosynthesis. Most importantly, o