The Adaptive Function of Tycheposons in Marine Bacteria

Jecu, Diana (2021) The Adaptive Function of Tycheposons in Marine Bacteria. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are a type of genetic material which move within and between genomes and usually carry adaptive functions. They are transmitted between bacteria through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which is a primary mechanism of bacterial evolution. Tycheposons, which were first found in Prochlorococcus, are elements with site-specific integrases adapted to a mobile life-style. They are split into two categories, by function: PICI-like and cargo-carrying. This study looks into the ecological functionality of the genes of cargocarrying tycheposons. Tycheposons were searched for in two data sets: Tara Oceans and GORG. Both are diverse collections of metagenomic data of marine microorganisms from all over the world. In the first set, tycheposons were found in 5.12% of the searched genomes, while in the second set they were only found in 0.32%. The main annotations of the cargo genes in these tycheposons are limiting nutrient uptake, heavy metal binding, temperature shock management, and oxidative stress resistance. All of these functions facilitate the adaptation of the host to harsh environmental conditions, be it nutrient limitation or external stressors such as UV radiation, heat, or anthropogenic factors as pollution and potentially even climate change. However, due to the limitations of the sequencing method used for both data sets, further research is needed using other data sets to better examine tycheposon cargo functionality in marine bacteria.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Falcao Salles, J. and Hackl, T.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2021 11:18
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2021 11:18
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/24814

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