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DOI: doi.org/10.1093/plce...
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In lichen algal symbionts, HGTs conferred tolerance against desiccation and oxidative stress. Another example of HGT in algal symbionts is the acquisition of an enzyme belonging to the glycoside hydrolase 8 (GH8) family which might be involved in symbionts accomodation
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Finally, HGTs have been key to the evolution of plant-microbe mutualisms. In rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi, HGT provided symbiosis-related genes that enabled nitrogen fixation, immune modulation, and host adaptation.
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HGTs have enhanced plant immunity by introducing novel toxins, enzymes, and defense genes from microbes and other organisms. Examples include bacterial toxins in cycads and ferns, fungal-derived terpene synthases in liverworts, and fungal resistance genes in wheat.
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4. We then detail how these HGTs played a role in plant adaptation and functional evolution. HGT supported major transitions during plant evolution, like terrestrialization (the long-lasting water-to-land transition) or the evolution of the vascular system.
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- Validation: ensuring sequences are truly integrated into the host genome (through flanking host DNA, raw read support, or PCR) to rule out contamination.
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- Phylogenetic evidence: incongruence between gene and species trees, or patchy gene distributions across taxa.
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- Sequence-based clues: unusually high sequence similarity between distant species, conserved introns, codon usage mismatches, and non-syntenic gene positions.
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3. Detecting horizontal gene transfer (HGT) relies on identifying unusual genomic signatures and validating them carefully to avoid false positives from contamination. Key approaches include:
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Transposable elements and extrachromosomal circular DNA often aid transfer and integration. For long-term impact, the foreign DNA must enter germ cells or be passed through vegetative reproduction.
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2. We then detail mechanisms mediating HGTs. HGT in plants happens when DNA/RNA escapes donor cells, reaches recipient cells (via parasitism, grafting, illegitimate pollination, or vectors), and integrates into the genome.
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